The synthesis and biological activity of novel anthracenone-pyranones and anthracenone-furans.

An efficient and divergent methodology for the synthesis of new anthracenone-pyranones and anthracenone-furans is described. Key reactions discussed in these syntheses include an aldehyde promoted annulation with a β-keto-sulfoxide, a domino alkyne insertion/carbonylation/Nu-acylation and a DMEDA promoted Castro-Stephens reaction. We also report the in vitro growth inhibition of these compounds in a range of human cancer cells.

Domino reactions for the synthesis of anthrapyran-2-ones and the total synthesis of the natural product (±)-BE-26554A.

A domino alkyne addition/CO insertion/Nu acylation reaction to a series of novel anthrapyran-2-ones in good to excellent yields is described. In addition, an efficient synthetic sequence involving carbonylation, formation of a β-keto-sulfoxide, and cyclization is presented en route to the antibiotic and antitumor compound (±)-BE-26554A.