Selective C-7 Functionalization of Phenanthridines by Microwave-Assisted Claisen Rearrangements of 8-Allyloxyphenanthridines

Carbon-carbon bond formation in the phenanthridine 7-position was achieved by microwave-assisted Claisen rearrangement of 8-allyloxyphenanthridines. The reactions took place with excellent regioselectivity and high chemical yields. If the 7-position was substituted, rearrangement to C-9 took place, but the reaction occurred less readily. Rearrangements of 8-allyloxy-5,6-dihydrophenanthridines (phenanthridines with a saturated B-ring) gave a mixture of 7- and 9-substituted products. The experimental results were supported by DFT (density functional theory) calculations.

Synthesis of phenanthridines via a novel photochemically-mediated cyclization and application to the synthesis of triphaeridine

Readily synthesized biphenyl-2-carbaldehyde O-acetyl oximes were exposed to UV radiation affording phenanthridines. The scope and limitations of this novel reaction were explored. For example, exposure of 2',3'-dimethoxy-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-carbaldehyde O-acetyl oxime to UV radiation afforded 4-methoxyphenanthridine in 54% yield. This methodology was applied to the synthesis of trisphaeridine to afford the product in four linear steps in an overall yield of 6.5% from 1-bromo-2,4,5-trimethoxybenzene.

Hantzsch Ester-Mediated Synthesis of Phenanthridines under Visible-Light Irradiation

An efficient photocatalytic synthesis of phenanthridines mediated by an organo-photoredox initiator Hantzsch ester has been developed via denitrogenative intramolecular annulation of benzotriazolyl chalcones. The highly reducing photoactivated Hantzsch ester facilitates the transformation of benzotriazolyl chalcones into phenanthridinyl chalcones through photoinduced electron transfer (PET) and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) processes. The mild reaction conditions utilizing inexpensive Hantzsch ester as photosensitizer, wide reaction scope and excellent functional group tolerance are notable attributes of the methodology.

Oxidative Photocyclization of Aromatic Schiff Bases in Synthesis of Phenanthridines and Other Aza-PAHs

The oxidative photocyclization of aromatic Schiff bases was investigated as a potential method for synthesis of phenanthridine derivatives, biologically active compounds with medical applications. Although it is possible to prepare the desired phenanthridines using such an approach, the reaction has to be performed in the presence of acid and TEMPO to increase reaction rate and yield. The reaction kinetics was studied on a series of substituted imines covering the range from electron-withdrawing to electron-donating substituents. It was found that imines with electron-withdrawing substituents react one order of magnitude faster than imines bearing electron-donating groups. The ¹H NMR monitoring of the reaction course showed that a significant part of the Z isomer in the reaction is transformed into E isomer which is more prone to photocyclization. The portion of the Z isomer transformed showed a linear correlation to the Hammett substituent constants. The reaction scope was expanded towards synthesis of larger aromatic systems, namely to the synthesis of strained aromatic systems, e.g., helicenes. In this respect, it was found that the scope of oxidative photocyclization of aromatic imines is limited to the formation of no more than five ortho-fused aromatic rings.

Photocatalyzed syntheses of phenanthrenes and their aza-analogues. A review

Phenanthrenes and their aza-analogues have important applications in materials science and in medicine. Aim of this review is to collect recent reports describing their synthesis, which make use of radical cyclizations promoted by a visible light-triggered photocatalytic process.

Synthesis, Bacteriostatic and Anticancer Activity of Novel Phenanthridines Structurally Similar to Benzo[c]phenanthridine Alkaloids

In this study, we report the synthesis, antibacterial and anticancer evaluation of 38 novel phenanthridines that were designed as analogs of the benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids. The prepared phenanthridines differ from the benzo[c]phenanthridines in the absence of a benzene A-ring. All novel compounds were prepared from 6-bromo-2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde in several synthetic steps through reduction of Schiff bases and accomplished by radical cyclization. Twelve derivatives showed high antibacterial activity against Bacillussubtilis, Micrococcusluteus and/or Mycobacteriumvaccae at single digit micromolar concentrations. Some compounds also displayed cytotoxicity against the K-562 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines at as low as single digit micromolar concentrations and were more potent than chelerythrine and sanguinarine. The active compounds caused cell-cycle arrest in cancer cells, increased levels of p53 protein and caused apoptosis-specific fragmentation of PARP-1. Biological activity was connected especially with the presence of the N-methyl quaternary nitrogen and 7-benzyloxy substitution (compounds 7i, 7j, 7k, and 7l) of phenanthridine.

Metal-Free Photoredox Catalyzed Cyclization of O-(2,4-Dinitrophenyl)oximes to Phenanthridines

A metal-free visible-light photoredox-catalyzed intermolecular cyclization reaction of O-2,4-dinitrophenyl oximes to phenanthridines was developed. In this study, the organic dye eosin Y and i-Pr₂NEt were used as photocatalyst and terminal reductant, respectively. The oxime substrates were transformed into iminyl radical intermediates by single-electron reduction, which then underwent intermolecular homolytic aromatic substitution (HAS) reactions to give phenanthridine derivatives.

Visible-Light-Induced Trifluoromethylation of Isonitrile-Substituted Methylenecyclopropanes: Facile Access to 6-(Trifluoromethyl)-7,8-Dihydrobenzo[k]phenanthridine Derivatives

A new visible-light-induced trifluoromethylation of isonitrile-substituted methylenecyclopropanes is developed. A range of substituted 6-(trifluoromethyl)-7,8-dihydrobenzo[k]phenanthridine derivatives are readily furnished by this newly developed tandem reaction with moderate to good yields. This reaction allows the direct formation of two six-membered rings and three new C-C bonds, including the C-CF3 bond, under visible light irradiation.