A new approach to the synthesis of 4,5-dioxoaporphine alkaloids from preformed biaryl bond precursors

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4020(96)00657-6

The synthesis of cepharadione-B and 2-demethoxy analogues is described. Starting from fluorenones, ring C was formed by cyclization of (biphenyl-2-yl)acetyl morpholines under Bischler-Napieralsky conditions. The photochemistry of chloroacetamides was used to form ring B. The cytotoxicity of these compounds on several tumor cell lines was evaluated.