Abstract
The analogues robtein, ([plus or minus])-robtin and ([plus or minus]])-3[image],4[image],5[image],7-tetrahydroxyflavan-4-ol have been synthesized. The sequence of conversions (+)-dihydro-robinetin [forward arrow] (-)-robtin[forward arrow] (+)-3[image],4[image],5[image],7-tetrahydroxyflavan-4-ol and (+)-fustin[forward arrow](-)-butin[forward arrow](+)-3[image],4[image],7-trihydroxyflavan-4-ol has been effected in each instance by means of a Clemmensen-type reduction followed by catalytic hydrogenation. These interconversions establish the absolute configurations of flavanones as (2S), and those of the flavan-4-ols tentatively as (2S, 4R). The biochemical significance of the ready conversion of flavanonol into flavanone is discussed.