Conversion of flavonol glycoside to anthocyanin: an interpretation of the oxidation-reduction relationship of biosynthetic flavonoid-intermediates.

An efficient conversion of rutin to the corresponding anthocyanin, cyanidin 3--rutinoside, was established. Clemmensen-type reduction of rutin gave a mixture of flav-2-en-3-ol and two flav-3-en-3-ols, which were easily oxidised by air to give the anthocyanin. The interconversion reactions of these flavonoids provide insight into their biosynthetic pathway.