Synthetic anthracyclines: regiospecific total synthesis of D-ring thiophene analogues of daunomycin.

The key anhydride 2-acetoxy-[2-carboxy-5-(trimethylsilyl)thiophen-3-yl]acetic acid anhydride (8), prepared from (2-carboxythiophen-3-yl)acetic acid (5), underwent a strong base-induced cycloaddition reaction with the chloroquinone acetal (11) to give the 7,7-ethylenedioxy-2-trimethylsilyl-6,7,8,9- tetrahydroanthra[2,3-b]thiophene-5,10-dione (12) regioselectively. Similarly, the regioisomeric 8,8-ethylenedioxy-2-trimethylsilyl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydroanthra[2,3-b] thiophene- 5,10-dione (30) was obtained by the strong base-induced cycloaddition reaction of 8 with the chloroquinone acetal (29). These cycloadducts (12 and 30) were converted to D-ring thiophene analogues (28 and 38) of daunomycin (1a).

Synthetic anthracyclines: regiospecific total synthesis of a D-ring indole analogue of daunomycin.

The 4-methoxy-5-methylpyrano[4,3-b]indole-1,3(4H,5H)-dione (9), prepared from methyl 3-methoxycarbonyl-1-methylindol-2-yl acetate (6), underwent a strong base-induced cycloaddition reaction with 2-chloro-6,6-ethylenedioxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,4-naphthoquinone (11) to give the tetrahydronaphtho[2,3-b]carbazole-7,12-dione (10), regioselectively. The cycloadduct (10) was successfully converted to a D-ring indole analogue of daunomycin (1a).