Oxygenated phenanthrenes via quinol ketals: Cyclization vs. migration

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4020(95)00593-W

2-methoxyphenanthrenes were prepared by reaction of lithiated 2-bromostyrenes with quinone monoketals followed by acid-mediated cyclization of the resulting p-arylquinol ketals. Substitution at the bromostyrene side-chain or the quinone monoketal ring had only a modest effect on yields, but oxygen substitution on the bromostyrene aromatic nucleus resulted in a competing 1,2-aryl migration arising during the quinol ketal cyclization step. The extent of this rearrangement was found to be a function of the Lewis acid/solvent system employed.