Compounds and methods useful for treating and prevention of cancer, particularly hormone-dependent breast cancer. Provided are compounds of formula I: wherein X is selected from O, N, S, SO, SO2, and S(CH2)n, wherein n=1-10; R1 and R2 may be the same or different and are selected from H, OH, OCH3, OCH2CH3, OCH2C6H5, NH2, NHCH3, N(CH3)2, CH3, CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH3, CH(CH3)2, C(CH3)3, NO2, F, Cl, Br, CF3, SH, SCH3, SCH2CH3, OCOCH3, OCOC(CH3)3, OCOCH2COOH, and CN; and R3 is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring. Also provided are method for treating or preventing cancer in a subject by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a heteroaryl-containing isoflavone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, to a subject in need of treatment. Also provided is a method for the synthesis of 2-substituted isoflavones by first reacting deoxybenzoins with a phase transfer catalyst to provide a 2-(alkylthio)isoflavone; second deprotecting the 2-(alkylthio)isoflavone; and third applying selective debenzylation to form the final compound.