Selective methylation of kaempferol via benzylation and deacetylation of kaempferol acetates

A strategy for selective mono-, di- and tri-O-methylation of kaempferol, predominantly on the basis of selective benzylation and controllable deacetylation of kaempferol acetates, was developed. From the selective deacetylation and benzylation of kaempferol tetraacetate (1), 3,4′,5,-tri-O-acetylkaempferol (2) and 7-O-benzyl-3,4′5,-tri-O-acetylkaempferol (8) were obtained, respectively. By controllable deacetylation and followed selective or direct methylation of these two intermediates, eight O-methylated kaempferols were prepared with 51–77% total yields from kaempferol.