Cyano Group Removal from Cyano-Promoted Aza-Diels-Alder Adducts: Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationship of Phenanthroindolizidines and Phenanthroquinolizidines.

Phenanthroindolizidines and phenanthroquinolizidines were concisely synthesized by the reductive decyanization of cyano-promoted intramolecular aza-Diels-Alder cycloadducts followed by aryl-aryl coupling. Cyano groups were removed from α-aminoacrylonitriles via treatment with sodium borohydride in 2-propanol in almost quantitative yields; a possible mechanism was proposed and examined using D-labeling experiments. A systematic study of the effects of the phenanthrene substitution pattern on the anticancer activity against three human cancer cell lines was discussed.

Direct conversion of 1-(2-bromobenzoyl)isoquinolines to dibenzo[de,g]quinolin-7-ones via reductive photocyclization.

A series of A/D-ring substituted dibenzo[de,g]quinolin-7-ones was produced from the corresponding isoquinolinones and (2-bromophenyl)acetonitriles in four steps. This represents a convenient approach toward the synthesis of tetracyclic alkaloids. A direct conversion of 1-(2-bromobenzoyl)isoquinolines to dibenzo[de,g]quinolin-7-ones is the key step in the total synthesis.

Chemical constituents and biological studies of the leaves of Grevillea robusta.

Three new compounds: Graviquinone (1), cis-3-hydroxy-5-pentadecylcyclohexanone (2), and methyl 5-ethoxy-2-hydroxycinnamate (3), and thirty-eight known compounds were isolated and identified from the leaves of Grevillea robusta. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic and chemical transformation methods. Graviquinone (1) showed the strongest cytotoxicity against MCF-7, NCI-H460, and SF-268 cell lines.

Substituent effects on the iodine-catalyzed thermal cyclization of 3,4-diphenylbuta-1,3-dienyl isocyanates: mechanistic studies.

The thermal cyclization of 3,4-diphenylbuta-1,3-dienyl isocyanates 1, generated in situ from the corresponding azides, was investigated using iodine as a catalyst. Diphenylpyridinones 2, phenylnaphthalenes 3, and indenes 4 were produced via intramolecular ring closure. The nature of the substituents on the phenyl rings was found to be crucial to the distribution of cyclized products 2-4.