Microwave-assisted C-3 selective oxidative radical alkylation of flavonesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental details, characterization data, X-ray CIF file of 6a and copies of the 1H NMR spectra for all the products. CCDC 869563. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c2ob25249j

Flavones were directly alkylated at the C-3 position in moderate yields using a xanthate-based oxidative radical addition procedure. This methodology is a suitable synthetic tool for the direct substitution of the vinylic and unactivated CH bond of the C ring of the flavone by an alkyl functionality under neutral conditions. Flavones were directly alkylated at the C-3 position in moderate yields using a xanthate-based oxidative radical addition procedure.