2-Morpholinoisoflav-3-enes as flexible intermediates in the synthesis of phenoxodiol, isophenoxodiol, equol and analogues: Vasorelaxant properties, estrogen receptor binding and Rho/RhoA kinase pathway inhibition

Abstract

Isoflavone consumption correlates with reduced rates of cardiovascular disease. Epidemiological studies and clinical data provide evidence that isoflavone metabolites, such as the isoflavan equol, contribute to these beneficial effects. In this study we developed a new route to isoflavans and isoflavenes via 2-morpholinoisoflavenes derived from a condensation reaction of phenylacetaldehydes, salicylaldehydes and morpholine. We report the synthesis of the isoflavans equol and deoxygenated analogues, and the isoflavenes 7,4′-dihydroxyisoflav-3-ene (phenoxodiol, haganin E) and 7,4′-dihydroxyisoflav-2-ene (isophenoxodiol). Vascular pharmacology studies reveal that all oxygenated isoflavans and i..