The condensation of 2-hydroxychloroacetophenone (I) with 4-chlorobenzaldehyde (II) by means of KOH in ethanol - water gives 4,5'-dichloro-2'-hydroxychalcone (III), which is cyclized by treatment with polyphosphoric acid (PPA) in reftuxing 2-methoxyethanol yielding 4',6-dichloroflavan (IV). Finally, this compound is reduced with Zn-Hg in acetic acid-hydrochloric acid.