Process for making flavanone derivatives

A process for making a compound of formula (I):

• wherein:
• R1 is a hydrogen atom, —OH, or —O—R1A;
• R1A is C1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted one or more times by substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH and C1-6 alkoxy;
• R2 is a hydrogen atom, —OH, or —O—R2A;
• R2A is C1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted one or more times by substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH and C1-6 alkoxy;
• R3 is a hydrogen atom, —OH or —O—R3A;
• R3A is C1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted one or more times by substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH and C1-6 alkoxy;
• R4 is a hydrogen atom, —OH, or —O—R4A;
• R4A is C1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted one or more times by substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH and C1-6 alkoxy;
• R5 is —O—C(O)—(C1-24 alkyl);
• R6 and R7 are independently selected from the group consisting of C1-6 alkyl, —OH, C1-6 alkoxy, and —O—(C1-6 alkylene)-O—(C1-6 alkyl);
• m is 0, 1, or 2;
• and
• n is 0, 1, 2, or 3;
• the process comprising reacting a precursor compound of formula (Ia)
• wherein:
• R1 is a hydrogen atom, —OH, or —O—R1A;
• R1A is C1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted one or more times by substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH and C1-6 alkoxy;
• R2 is a hydrogen atom, —OH, or —O—R2A;
• R2A is C1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted one or more times by substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH and C1-6 alkoxy;
• R3 is a hydrogen atom, —OH or —O—R3A;
• R3A is C1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted one or more times by substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH and C1-6 alkoxy;
• R4 is a hydrogen atom, —OH, or —O—R4A;
• R4A is C1-6 alkyl, which is optionally substituted one or more times by substituents selected from the group consisting of —OH and C1-6 alkoxy;
• R6 and R7 are independently selected from the group consisting of C1-6 alkyl, —OH, C1-6 alkoxy, and —O—(C1-6 alkylene)-O—(C1-6 alkyl);
• m is 0, 1, or 2;
• and
• n is 0, 1, 2, or 3;
• with an acyltransferase enzyme to form a compound of formula (I).