Convenient synthesis of flavanone derivatives via oxa-Michael addition using catalytic amount of aqueous cesium fluoride

A total of 36 flavanones, which included polycyclic aromatic and heterocyclic rings, were readily synthesized via oxa-Michael addition from the corresponding hydroxychalcones with a catalytic amount of aqueous cesium fluoride solution under mild conditions. This method could be applied to the scalable synthesis of eriodictyol as a known potent inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.