Flavonoid derivatives have been optimized as relatively rigid antagonists of adenosine receptors with particular selectivity for the A3 receptor subtype. A quantitative study of the structure-activity relationships for binding of flavonoids to adenosine A1, A2A, and A3 receptors has been conducted using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA). Correlation coefficients (cross-validated r2) of 0.605, 0.595, and 0.583 were obtained for the three subtypes, respectively. All three CoMFA models have the same steric and electrostatic contributions, implying similar requirements inside the binding cavity. Similarities were seen in the topology of steric and electrostatic regions with the A1 and A3 receptors, but not the A2A. Substitutions on the phenyl ring at the C-2 position of the chromone moiety may be considered important for binding affinity at all adenosine receptors. In the A3 model a region of favorable bulk interaction is located around the 2'-position of the phenyl ring. The presence of a C-6 substituent in the chromone moiety is well tolerated and increases the A1/A3 selectivity. The CoMFA coefficient contour plots provide a self-consistent picture of the main chemical features responsible for the pKi variations and also result in predictions which agree with experimental values.