Facile Synthesis of the Chalcones and Dihydrochalcones from Naringin, Neohesperidin and Hesperidin

The flavanone glycosides naringin, neohesperidin and hesperidin were converted chemically to the corresponding chalcones and dihydrochalcones; the one-step synthesis, performed at room temperature, required the presence of 25% KOH in the reaction mixture for the former and 10% KOH, a catalyst and molecular hydrogen at atmospheric pressure for the latter.