2, 5-Dimethoxyresorcinol (IX) was condensed with¿-hydroxyphenylacetonitrile by Hoesch reaction to give 2, 4-dihydroxy-3, 6-dimethoxyphenyl 4-hydroxybenzyl ketone (X), mp 98— 9.5. This ketone (X) was converted into 4', 7-dihydroxy-5, 8-dimethoxyisoflavone (XI) with ethyl for-