Esterification of daidzein (I) with acetic anhydride in pyridine affords diacetate (II). Subsequent catalytic hydrogenation of (II) over Pd/C leads to the isoflavanol derivative (III), which is further dehydrated to the isoflavene (IV). Finally, deacetylation of diester (IV) to furnish the title compound is accomplished by treatment with imidazole in boiling EtOH