Friedel-Crafts acylation of 3-fluorophenol (I) with acetic anhydride in the presence of AlCl3 at 120 C provided 4-fluoro-2-hydroxy-acetophenone (II). Subsequent treatment of (II) with phthaloyl chloride (III) in pyridine afforded diester (IV). Heating of (IV) with K2CO3 in pyridine, followed by acidic work-up yielded the title flavone.