Herein, we report a synthetic method with improved selectivity for 5-substituted flavonols via the Algar-Flynn-Oyamada reaction (AFO), by using of sodium carbonate/hydrogen peroxide A series of 5-substituted flavonols was obtained with moderate to high yields. The mechanism of the AFO reaction was elucidated. LCMS analysis and in situ 1H NMR analysis indicated that the epoxide was involved in the transformation from chalcone to flavonol and/or aurone under alkaline base/peroxide conditions.