Construction of pyrrolophenanthridinone scaffolds mediated by samarium(II) diiodide and access to natural product synthesis

Pyrrolophenanthridinone derivatives including the natural products were readily synthesized by samarium(II)-mediated reductive cyclization of aryl radical onto a benzene ring under mild reaction conditions. This methodology was applied to the concise synthesis of anhydrolycorinone, a natural pyrrolophenanthridinone and a precursor of hippadine and anhydrolycorine. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.