Treatment of o-hydroxyacetophenones 2a-e with excess lithium bis (trimethylsily1) amide followed by dim 1 carbonates gave alkyl 3-(2-hydroxyaryl)-3-oxopropanoates 3a-e. The latter substances were transformed through the reaction of their magnesium chelates with benzoyl chlorides into a series of 3-(alkoxycarbonyl)-2-arylflavones, which were subsequently elaborated into a variety of flavonoids. These compounds were tested for ...