The palladium(0) Suzuki cross-coupling reaction as the key step in the synthesis of aporphinoids

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.tet.2004.05.014

We report a flexible approach to the total synthesis of 4,5-dioxoaporphines based on the palladium(0) catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling of phenylboronic acids with sterically hindered 2-bromo phenyl acetates or bromo phenyl acetamides, followed by sequential bicyclization of biarylacetamides promoted by oxalyl chloride/Lewis acid. The reduction of 4,5-dioxoaporphines provides a chemoselective entry to aporphines, dehydroaporphines and 4-hydroxy- dehydroaporphines. A three-steps total synthesis for (±)-O,O′- dimethylapomorphine from readily accessible precursors is also reported.

Full text of DOI:10.1016/j.tet.2004.05.014

Tetrahedron 60 (2004) 5725–5735
The palladium(0) Suzuki cross-coupling reaction as the key step
in the synthesis of aporphinoids
a
a
a
a
b
R. Suau,a R. Rico, F. Najera, F. J. Ortiz-Lopez, J. M. Lopez-Romero, M. Moreno-Man˜as
,
*
´
´
´
and A. Roglansb
a
´
´
´
´
Dep. Quımica Organica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
´ ´
Dep. Quımica, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
b
Received 2 March 2004; revised 14 April 2004; accepted 7 May 2004
Abstract—We report a flexible approach to the total synthesis of 4,5-dioxoaporphines based on the palladium(0) catalyzed Suzuki cross-
coupling of phenylboronic acids with sterically hindered 2-bromo phenyl acetates or bromo phenyl acetamides, followed by sequential
bicyclization of biarylacetamides promoted by oxalyl chloride/Lewis acid. The reduction of 4,5-dioxoaporphines provides a chemoselective
entry to aporphines, dehydroaporphines and 4-hydroxy-dehydroaporphines. A three-steps total synthesis for (^)-O,O0-dimethylapomorphine
from readily accessible precursors is also reported.
q 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
aporphines,9 which are believed to act as post-infectional
phytoalexins in plants, and to exhibit significant cytotoxicity
against various tumoral cell lines and DNA modifying
bioactivity.10) This synthesis requires a suitably function-
alized phenanthrene I as the key intermediate (ACD!B
approach). These type of compounds (I) have been prepared
following two different pathways; one starts from an
accessible substrate with the preformed biaryl bond
included in its structure (e.g., a functionalized fluorenone
or dibenzopyrane10a) and the other from the radical
cyclization of a functionalized stilbene prepared using the
Horner protocol (Scheme 2).10e
A number of approaches to the synthesis of 4H-dibenzo-
[de,g]quinoline as the basic skeleton of the large group of
aporphinoid alkaloids have been reported.1 Most follow a
biogenetic pathway the last step in which involves the
cyclization of a suitably functionalized 1-benzylisoquino-
line (ABD!C approach in Scheme 1). Methods used to
obtain the aryl–aryl bond include the classical Pschorr
reaction;2 phenolic, monophenolic and non-phenolic oxi-
dative coupling;3 enamide photocyclization;4 benzyne
cyloaddition,5 radical cyclization6 and ortho-arylation.7
A non-biogenetic approach involving the construction of
ring B at the final stage of the synthesis has been employed
in the synthesis of aporphines and aporphine analogs8
(particularly the highly oxidized aporphines, 4,5-dioxo-
In the former case, oxidation of the fluorenone followed by
homologation and Bischler–Napieralsky cyclization to the
amino-phenanthrene I involved several steps (22% overall
yield from 1-methoxyfluorenone). The latter approach
Scheme 1.
Keywords: Aporphinoids; Apomorphine; 4,5-Dioxoaporphine; 4-Hydroxy-dehydroaporphine; Aporphine; Palladium; Suzuki cross-coupling; Oxalyl chloride;
Cascade cyclization; Reduction.
*
Corresponding author. Tel.: þ34-95213-1934; fax: þ34-95213-2000; e-mail address: suau@uma.es
0040–4020/$ - see front matter q 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.tet.2004.05.014

5726
R. Suau et al. / Tetrahedron 60 (2004) 5725–5735
Scheme 2.
involves four steps, namely: formation of the phosphoryl-
ated benzamide, Horner reaction, radical cyclization and
deprotection at nitrogen (48% average yield). In previous
work we developed two different approaches to the
formation of ring B; one involved photocyclization of
a-chloroacetamides followed by oxidation or oxalyl
chloride/Lewis acid reaction.10a Subsequently, we developed
a much more direct approach based on the double
cyclization of biphenyl acetamides promoted by oxalyl
chloride/Lewis acid with sequential formation of rings C
and B in a single step (Scheme 3).11
functionalized biphenyls as key intermediates (II, Scheme
2), using a more direct approach in order to circumvent the
intermediate steps that decrease the overall yield and chose
the Suzuki cross-coupling variant among the synthetic
methods for biaryls.13 This palladium-catalyzed cross-
coupling of phenyl derivatives is a flexible, advantageous
synthetic method for constructing C–C biaryl bonds under
mild reaction conditions. It tolerates aqueous media; also,
the inorganic products of the reaction can be easily
eliminated, the boron compounds are stable, none of the
products is toxic, and many of the aryl boronic acids are
commercially available with an appropriate oxygenation
aromatic pattern. However, the Suzuki biaryl cross-
coupling reaction still requires some improvement,
especially when sterically hindered substrates are involved.
In addition, ortho-di and tri-substituted biaryls are also
interesting because they are key structural elements of
many pharmacologically active natural and synthetic
products.14
In this bicyclization, the oxalyl chloride activates the
biphenylacetamide to give an electrophilic acyliminium
ion which is the acylating agent that promotes the
construction of ring C, gives the a-dicarbonyl system
needed for the formation of ring B, and activates the
Friedel–Crafts reaction in the final ring B closure.
This double cyclization has also been successfully applied
to the total synthesis of 3,4-dioxocularine alkaloids from
aryloxy-phenylacetamides, and to the synthesis of C-homo-
protoberberines that can be easily decarbonylated to the
corresponding 8-oxo-berbines (Scheme 4).12
This paper reports our findings in using the Suzuki cross-
coupling reaction for the synthesis of biaryl acetamides and
esters, and its application to the synthesis of 4,5-dioxo-
aporphines, including the improvement in the cyclization of
biarylacetamides promoted by oxalyl chloride/Lewis acid.
This approach, which provides a convergent construction
method for the aporphine skeleton in two steps, prompted us
to explore the reduction of 4,5-dioxoaporphines to other
aporphinoids. The results were applied to the total synthesis
of (^)-O,O0-dimethylapomorphine in only three synthetic
steps. The Suzuki coupling method and Meyers’ protocol
for the preparation of its key biphenylacetamide inter-
mediate are compared.
Although this double cyclization considerably shortens the
synthesis of 4,5-dioxoaporphines, its use is limited by the
availability of suitably substituted fluorenones or dibenzo-
pyranes to match the oxygenated substitution pattern of
naturally occurring 4,5-dioxoaporphines on the one hand,
and by the long sequence required for homologation
(reduction, halogenation, cyanation, hydrolysis and amida-
tion) on the other. We thus focused on the synthesis of
Scheme 3.
Scheme 4.

R. Suau et al. / Tetrahedron 60 (2004) 5725–5735
5727
Scheme 5.
2. Results and discussion
to those of amides 5c,j, hindered the purification of the
amide derivatives by column chromatography, and resulted
in significantly diminished yields for the isolated com-
pounds (43% for 5c and 41% for 5j).
2.1. Suzuki cross-coupling
We first examined the coupling of arylboronic acid 1 or 2
with phenyl acetamides 3 and 4, using the standard
conditions for the Suzuki coupling, namely Pd(PPh3)4 as
catalyst, K2CO3 as base and DME–H2O as solvent. Under
these conditions, total conversion was found by 1H NMR of
the reaction crude, and high yields of the cross-coupling
compounds 5c and 5j (87 and 83%, respectively) were
determined by GC–MS (Scheme 5). However, the presence
of triphenylphosphine oxide, the Rf for which is very close
Then, our attention was turned to the coupling of the ester
derivatives instead of the amides in order to circumvent the
purification difficulties. We first explored the coupling of
2-bromo-4,5-methylendioxy-phenylacetic methyl ester (7)
with phenylboronic acid (1) (Table 1, entry 8). Under the
above-described conditions, Pd(PPh3)4/K2CO3/DME–H2O,
refluxing compounds 1 and 7 for 18 h led to 100%
conversion and, after purification, 11h was obtained in a
86% yield. The coupling of boronic acids 1, 2 and 6 with the
bromide derivatives 7–10 under the same conditions
afforded the biphenyl esters 11a–j (Scheme 6, Table 1).
Increasing the steric hindrance in the boronic acid (6 and 2)
decreased the yield in the coupled products (entries 9 and
10, 76 and 59%, for 11i and 11j, respectively). The influence
of the methoxy group ortho to the coupling position was
also apparent in the reactions of bromide 10 with boronic
acids 1, 2 and 6 (entries 3–5).
Table 1. Palladium catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling of esters 7–10 with
boronic acids 1, 2 and 6 (Pd(PPh3)4/K2CO3/DME–H2O)
Entry
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
Ester, 11, yield, %a
1
2
H
OMe
OMe
OMe
H
H
H
H
H
H
11a, 64 (76)
11b, 56 (62)
3
4
5
H
H
OMe
H
OMe
OMe
OMe
OMe
OMe
OMe
OMe
OMe
H
H
H
11c, 83 (100)
11d, 58 (70)
11e, 31b (41)
The formation of the biaryl bond in highly sterically
hindered biphenyls proved more difficult, as also observed
in the preparation of the 1,2,10,20-tetramethoxylated
biphenyl (11e), with three ortho substituents, and the yield
dropping to 31% (Table 1, entry 5). It has been shown that
improving the conditions for sterically hindered Suzuki
coupling entails using of anhydrous conditions and
phosphate. Using them in the coupling of 2 and 10 [DMF,
6
7
H
OMe
OMe
OMe
H
H
OMe
OMe
OMe
OMe
11f, 67 (80)
11g, 45 (56)
8
9
10
H
H
OMe
H
OMe
OMe
OCH2O
OCH2O
OCH2O
11h, 86 (100)
11i, 76 (95)
11j, 59 (69)
H
H
a
(%) Yield by GC.
40% yield with DMF, K3PO4, and 10 mol% Pd(PPh3)4 as catalytic
system.
b
Scheme 6.

5728
R. Suau et al. / Tetrahedron 60 (2004) 5725–5735
K3PO4, 10 mol% Pd(PPh3)4, 100 8C] raised the yield of 11e
to 40%.
lower electron density at position 1 of the boronic acid (2)
compared to the unsubstituted acid (6), as suggested by
electron density ab initio calculations (Fig. 1).17 This effect
on the yields is observed for th0e compound series. In fact,
the dimerization product, 2,2 ,3,30-tetramethoxybiphenyl
(13), and the deboronation product, veratrol (14), were
always isolated from the reaction medium in the preparation
of 11a,b, 11d,e, 11f,g and 11i,j (Scheme 6).
Alternative catalysts and catalytic conditions were also
tested. When the cross-coupling was conducted with the
phosphine-free catalytic system Pd2(dba)3 in the presence of
K2CO3, the coupling products 11h and 11j were obtained in
lower yields (63 and 45%, respectively). The catalytic
potential of the 15-membered macrocyclic triolefin palla-
dium(0) complex (12), which can be recovered from
reaction medium and reused with no loss of catalytic
activity, was also examined.15 The reaction of the bromide 7
with the phenylboronic acids 1 and 2, revealed that catalyst
12 promotes the cross coupling, and biphenyls 11h and 11j
were isolated, albeit with maximum yields around only
20%; as expected, the catalyst was quantitatively recovered
in both cases after column chromatography on silica gel.
Also, the presence of two methoxy groups in the molecule
induces some deboronation due to an out-of-plane confor-
mation of the boronic acid group in the more strained
compound 2 which makes it more labile.
The biaryl esters 11a–c, 11e and 11j were readily converted
(yield 72–92%) to the biarylacetamides 5a–c, 5e and 5j by
aminolysis with 45% aqueous methylamine in the presence
of sodium cyanide as catalyst (Scheme 7).18
Differences in yield among biaryls exhibiting similar steric
interactions can be ascribed to electronic effects.16 Thus the
decreased yield observed in the coupling of the meta-
methoxy substituted boronic acid (2) (entries 2, 5, 7, 10,
Table 1) can be ascribed to induction from this group of a
2.2. Sequential bicyclization of biarylacetamides
The cyclization of amide 5a, conducted under the
previously described conditions11 and using an excess of
reagents [viz. 3 equiv. (COCl)2 and 2.5 equiv. SnCl4 in
dichloromethane at 5 8C for 3 days] gave 15a (80% yield)
together with 16 (2%) and the uncyclized oxalylamido-
phenanthrene derivative (8%). We then standardized the
reaction conditions with a larger excess of reagents
(10 equiv. each), and heating at 60 8C, which shortened
the reaction time (12–24 h) and raised the yield in 15a
(96%) (Scheme 8). Cepharadione-B (15b), which was
previously obtained in 5% yield in a multistep sequence
from 1-methoxyfluorenone, with formation of ring B by
photocyclization of the corresponding phenanthryl-a-
chloroacetamide, was now obtained in a 29% yield in
three steps (52% biaryl coupling, 87% amidation and 65%
Figure 1. Electron density ab initio calculations for compounds 6 (left) and
2 (right).
Scheme 7.
Scheme 8.

R. Suau et al. / Tetrahedron 60 (2004) 5725–5735
5729
Scheme 9.
double cyclization). Cyclization of 5j afforded the bioactive
alkaloid corydione (15j) in a 20% overall yield from boronic
acid 2. The lower yield obtained in the cyclization of 5j was
probably due to the sensitivity of the methylenedioxo group
to the reaction conditions.
occurring aporphines. The same BH3·THF procedure but
heating at 60 8C instead led to the corresponding
dehydroaporphines (18a,b). The completely reduced apor-
phine skeleton (19a,b) can be easily achieved by standard
Clemmensen reduction of the 7–7a double bond (76% for
19a and 83% for 19b).
Next, we attempted to expand the usefulness of this
synthetic approach to the secondary amides, which could
provide an entry to N-nor-dioxoaporphines and extend it to
the synthesis of nor-aporphines. Direct access to these types
of compounds following this synthetic pathway is limited
because the reaction of oxalyl chloride with primary amides
gives acyl isocyanates.19 Protection of the nitrogen with a
p-methoxy phenyl group, and cyclization of the secondary
amide 5k, afforded the N-p-methoxyphenyl substituted
aporphinoid 15k (together with the furandione 16, Scheme
8). However, all attempts at N-deprotection using reagents
such as CAN or silver nitrate, or anodic oxidation following
described procedures were unsuccessful,20 probably due to
the low basicity of the nitrogen atom.
The attempted direct reduction of 15a to the aporphine 19a
under Clemmensen conditions failed, probably because of
the insolubility of these 4,5-dioxoaporphines under the
reaction conditions used.
2.4. Synthesis of (6)-O,O0-dimethylapomorphine (19c)
Apomorphines are non-natural aporphines that result from
the acid rearrangement of morphinanes. They have been
widely investigated ever since the structural relationship
between apomorphine and the neurotransmitter dopamine
was realized.22 Recently, it has been reported that
apomorphines may play an important role in the prevention
of Alzheimer’s disease.23
2.3. Reduction of 4,5-dioxoaporphines
Usually, apomorphine and its derivatives are obtained by
semi-synthesis from morphine-related structures. Most of
the reported total syntheses for apomorphine involve
cathodic cyclization of 1-(o-iodobenzyl)isoquinolinum
methiodide24 followed by H2/PtO2 reduction, or start from
a benzylisolquinoline diazonium salt prepared following a
Bischler–Napieralski or Reissert procedure,25 and having
the O,O0-dimethyl derivative as intermediate.
4,5-Dioxoaporphines 15a,b were used as models to study
the reduction to other aporphinoids (Scheme 9). Treatment
with either LAH or NaBH4 under variable conditions gave
complex reaction mixtures. Treating 15a,b with BH3·THF at
room temperature21 provided in good yields the 4-hydroxy-
dehydro aporphines 17a,b (72 and 79%, respectively),
which are in an oxidation state not found among naturally
Scheme 10.

5730
R. Suau et al. / Tetrahedron 60 (2004) 5725–5735
Following the proposed approach, we accomplished the
total synthesis of (^)-O,O0-dimethylapomorphine (19c).
The process involved three steps, namely: coupling of the
ester 7 with the boronic acid 1, and aminolysis to the
biphenylacetamide 5c (76% total yield) and cyclization,
promoted by oxalyl chloride and Lewis acid, to 4,5-dioxo-
O,O0-dimethylapomorphine (15c), which was reduced with
BH3·THF and subjected to Clemmensen reaction with
Zn(Hg)/HCl to afford (^)-19c in a 26% overall yield from
the boronic acid 1 (Scheme 10). From the cyclization of
5c the indanodione 20 was also isolated.11b Partial26 or
complete demethylation of methoxy groups in 19c to obtain
apomorphine can be readily accomplished by using various
reported methods (e.g., refluxing with 57% HI in Ac2O).
4 min) to 250 8C at 10 8C min21 and then held at 250 8C
for 15 min. High resolution mass spectra (EI and FAB) were
recorded on a Kratos MS 50 spectrometer. NMR spectra
were obtained on a Bruker WP-200 SY instrument, at
1
200 MHz for H and 50.3 MHz for 13C, or a Bruker ARX
1
400 model operating at 400 MHz for H and 100 MHz for
1
13C. H Chemical shifts (dH) are given relative to residual
CHCl3 (dH 7.24 ppm) in deuteriochloroform, or to residual
DMSO in DMSO-d6. J values are in Hz. 13C Chemical
shifts (dC) are given relative to CDCl3 (dC 77.0 ppm) in
deuteriochloroform. TLC analyses were performed on silica
gel 60 F 256 plates, and column chromatography (cc) on
silica gel 60 (70–230 mesh).
Boronic acids 1 and 6 are commercially available and
boronic acid 2 was prepared from 1,2-dimethoxy-benzene
by treatment with n-BuLi, B(OMe)3 followed by acid
hydrolysis.28 Compounds 7, 8 and 9 were prepared from the
corresponding phenylacetic acid, 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-
acetic acid and 3,4-methylendioxyphenylacetic acid,
respectively, by bromination and esterification with
MeOH/Hþ.29 2-Bromo-3,4-dimethoxyphenyl acetic acid
was prepared from vanillin, using the following synthetic
sequence: (i) Br2/AcOH, (ii) MeI/Na2CO3/DMF, (iii)
NaBH4/MeOH, (iv) SOCl2/CH2Cl2, (v) NaCN/MeCN,
(vi) KOH/EtOH–H2O. From this acid, compounds 3 and
10 were prepared by amidation and esterification, respec-
tively. Amide 4 was prepared from 3,4-methylendioxy-
phenylacetic acid by bromination and amidation.30
Meyers’ coupling27 is a widely used choice for biaryl
coupling, so it was of interest to compare this methodology
with the Suzuki coupling to prepare the biphenyl amide 5c
as the key intermediate in the synthesis of 19c. The reaction
of iodobenzene (21) with the oxazoline 22 gave the
biphenylcarboxylic acid 23 in 61% yield; homologation of
this acid led to the amide 5c in a 55% overall yield from the
oxazoline (Scheme 10). The Suzuki coupling approach
therefore results in better yield (83 versus 61% in the biaryl
bond formation) and is more expeditious as it avoids the
need to homologate the side alkyl chain.
3. Conclusions
4.2. Suzuki cross-coupling reactions
We prepared biphenyl acetamides and esters by palla-
dium(0) catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling of phenylboronic
acids and phenyl bromides under very mild reaction
conditions, all in moderate to good yields, even when the
parent compounds were sterically hindered.
4.2.1. Preparation of biaryl amides 5c and 5j. A mixture
of Pd(PPh3)4 (0.17 mmol, 10 mol%) and bromide 3 or 4
(1.7 mmol) in DME (25 mL) was stirred for 15 min at 20 8C
under argon. 2 M aqueous K2CO3 (5.9 mL, 11.8 mmol) was
added to the mixture, followed by the corresponding
boronic acid, 1 or 2 (3.5 mmol) in DME (8 mL). The
mixture was refluxed for 18 h and then cooled at 20 8C.
The reaction mixture was treated with water and ethyl ether.
The organic extracts were washed with 1 M NaOH and
water and dried over MgSO4, the solvent being evaporated
to dryness to give the biphenyls 5c and 5j, which were
purified by column chromatography (silicagel, hexane–
AcOEt).
We developed a general approach to the total synthesis of
aporphinoids in only three steps, namely: (i) Suzuki biaryl
cross-coupling as the key step, (ii) sequential bicyclization
promoted by oxalyl chloride/Lewis acid, and (iii) reduction
of the a-dicarbonyl system. Compared to previously
reported methods for the synthesis of aporphine alkaloids,
the proposed method is expeditious, convergent on building
the oxidized aporphinoids and divergent in its reduction,
and cost-saving. Following this pathway, we successfully
prepared O,O0-dimethylapomorphine in 29% yield from the
commercial phenylboronic acid 1.
(5,6-Dimethoxy)biphenyl-20-yl N-methyl-acetamide (5c).
0.085 g (43%). White solid; mp 119–122 8C (AcOEt); n
(KBr) cm21 3273, 1644; lmax (CHCl3) nm (log 1) 284
(3.09), 244 (3.65); dH (CDCl3) 7.4–7.3 (m, 3H, ArH), 7.2–
7.1 (m, 2H, ArH), 7.05 (d, 1H, J¼8.5 Hz, ArH), 6.91 (d, 1H,
J¼8.5 Hz, ArH), 5.1 (br s, 1H, NH), 3.89 (s, 3H, OCH3),
3.50 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.26 (s, 2H, CH2), 2.63 (d, 3H, J¼
4.8 Hz, NHCH3); dC (CDCl3) 171.7 (CO), 152.1 (C), 147.0
(C), 137.1 (C), 136.4 (C), 129.5 (2£CH), 128.2 (2£CH),
127.4 (CH), 126.3 (C), 125.9 (CH), 111.9 (CH), 60.6
(OCH3), 55.8 (OCH3), 40.8 (CH2), 26.3 (NHCH3); m/z (%)
285 (Mþ, 97), 227 (76), 212 (100), 196 (57), 152 (53). Anal.
calculated for C17H19NO3: C 71.56, H 4.91, N 6.71%,
found: C 71.74, H 4.72, N 6.85.
4. Experimental
4.1. General procedures
Mps. were determined on a Gallenkamp instrument and are
given uncorrected. UV spectra were recorded on a Hewlett–
Packard 8452A spectrophotometer, and IR spectra on a
Perkin–Elmer 883 spectrophotometer. Low resolution MS
and GC/MS analyses were carried out on an HP 5988A mass
spectrometer coupled to an HP 5980 gas chromatograph
furnished with a fused silica capillary column (HP-1,
12 m£0.2 mm i.d., 0.33 mm film thickness). Helium, at a
flow-rate of 1 mL min21, was used as the carrier gas. The
column temperature was increased from 200 8C (hold
(20,30-Dimethoxy-4,5-methylendioxy)biphenyl-20-yl N-methyl-
acetamide (5j). 0.094 g (41%). White solid; mp 176–120 8C

R. Suau et al. / Tetrahedron 60 (2004) 5725–5735
5731
(AcOEt); n (KBr) cm21 3297, 1644; lmax (CHCl3) nm
(log 1) 282 (3.25), 244 (3.88); dH (CDCl3) 7.01 (t, 1H,
J¼8.0 Hz, ArH), 6.87 (dd, 1H, J¼8.0, 1.5 Hz, ArH), 6.82 (s,
1H, ArH), 6.63 (m, 2H, ArH), 5.91 5.1 (br s, 1H, NH), 5.90
(d, 2H, J¼2.2 Hz, OCH2O), 3.83 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.55 (s, 3H,
OCH3), 3.39 (s, 2H, CH2); 2.61 (d, 3H, J¼4.7 Hz, NHCH3);
dC (CDCl3) 171.9 (CO), 152.6 (C), 147.2 (C), 146.2 (C),
145.9 (C), 134.9 (C), 131.1 (C), 127.2 (C), 124.1 (CH),
122.8 (CH), 111.7 (CH), 109.9 (CH), 109.2 (CH), 101.0
(OCH2O), 60.7 (OCH3), 55.6 (OCH3), 40.8 (CH2), 26.2
(NHCH3); m/z (%) 329 (Mþ, 31), 272 (19), 240 (100). Anal.
calculated for C18H19NO5: C 65.63, H 5.82, N 4.25%,
found: C 65.44, H 5.71, N 4.20.
(83%). Yellowish syrup; n (KBr) cm21 1726 (nCO); lmax
(CHCl3) nm (log 1) 282 (3.17), 246 (3.57); dH (CDCl3)
7.40–7.31 (m, 3H, ArH), 7.25–7.17 (m, 2H, ArH), 7.03 (d,
1H, J¼8.2 Hz, ArH), 6.90 (d, 1H, J¼8.2 Hz, ArH), 3.87 (s,
3H, OCH3), 3.55 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.51 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.35 (s,
2H, CH2); dC (CDCl3) 172.4 (CO), 151.9 (C), 146.7 (C),
137.1 (C), 136.5 (C), 129.6 (2£CH), 127.9 (2£CH), 127.1
(CH), 125.6 (C), 125.4 (CH), 111.5 (CH), 60.5 (OCH3), 55.7
(OCH3), 51.7 (OCH3), 38.3 (CH2); m/z (%): 286 (Mþ, 100),
227 (61), 212 (80), 196 (45), 180 (22), 152 (29), 141 (18),
115 (25); HRMS FAB calculated for C17H19O4 [MþH]þ
m/z 287.1283, found: 287.1292.
(20,5,6-Trimethoxy)biphenyl-2-yl methyl acetate (11d).
0.31 g (58%). Yellowish syrup; n (KBr) cm21 1724 (nCO);
4.2.2. Preparation of biaryl esters 11a–j. Suzuki coupling
of bromo esters 7–10 with boronic acids 1, 2 and 6 and work
up were carried out as described above. Biaryl esters 11a–j
were purified by crystallization or column chromatography
(silicagel, hexane–EtOAc) if necessary. An identical
procedure was followed with Pd(dba)3 as catalyst.
lmax (CHCl3) nm (log 1) 280 (3.66), 244 (3.65); dH (CDCl3)
7.34 (ddd, 1H, J¼7.9, 7.3, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 7.08 (dd, 1H,
J¼7.3, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 7.04 (d, 1H, J¼8.2 Hz, ArH), 7.01–
6.91 (m, 2H, ArH), 6.90 (d, 1H, J¼8.2 Hz, ArH), 3.86 (s,
3H, OCH3), 3.71 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.30 (s, 6H, 2£OCH3),
3.30–3.29 (br s, 2H, CH2); dC (CDCl3) 172.3 (CO), 156.7
(C), 151.8 (C), 146.9 (C), 133.3 (C), 131.5 (CH), 129.0
(CH), 126.2 (C), 125.2 (CH), 125.1 (C), 120.3 (CH), 111.5
(CH), 110.5 (CH), 60.4 (OCH3), 55.7 (OCH3), 55.3 (OCH3),
51.6 (OCH3), 38.2 (CH2); m/z (%) 316 (Mþ, 100), 284 (26),
257 (31), 241 (28), 226 (77), 211 (29); HRMS FAB
calculated for C18H21O5 [MþH]þ m/z 317.1389, found:
317.1379.
Reaction with catalyst 12. A stirred mixture of bromide 7
(0.30 mmol), boronic acid 1 or 2 (0.32 mmol), K2CO3
(0.80 mmol), macrocyclic Pd(0) catalyst (12, 5 mol%)
water (1 mL) and acetone (2 mL) was heated at 70 8C for
12 h. After cooling to room temperature, water and ether
were added. The organic layer was separated, washed with
water, dried over MgSO4 and evaporated. Column chroma-
tography of the residue on silica gel afforded the
corresponding biphenyl esters 11h and 11j. Further elution
(hexane–EtOAc, 10:5) provided quantitative recovery of
the catalyst (12).
(20,30,5,6-Tetramethoxy)biphenyl-2-yl methyl acetate (11e).
0.18 g (31%). Colorless crystals; mp 63–66 8C;
n (KBr) cm21 1726 (nCO) 1726 (nCO); lmax (CHCl3) nm
(log 1) 280 (3.50), 244 (3.63); dH (CDCl3) 7.05 (dd, 1H,
J¼8.2, 7.6 Hz, ArH), 7.03 (d, 1H, J¼8.2 Hz, ArH), 6.92 (dd,
1H, J¼8.2, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 6.90 (d, 1H, J¼8.2 Hz, ArH), 6.68
(dd, 1H, J¼7.6, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 3.88 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.87 (s,
3H, OCH3), 3.62 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.58 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.52 (s,
3H, OCH3), 3.33–3.32 (sa, 2H, CH2); dC (CDCl3) 172.4
(CO), 152.7 (C), 151.7 (C), 146.7 (C), 146.6 (C), 133.2 (C),
130.7 (C), 126.2 (C), 125.1 (CH), 123.4 (CH), 123.2 (CH),
111.9 (CH), 111.6 (CH), 60.6 (OCH3), 60.3 (OCH3), 55.7
(2£OCH3), 51.7 (OCH3), 38.2 (CH2); m/z (%) 346 (Mþ,
41), 287 (11), 255 (100), 241 (22), 225 (18). Anal.
calculated for C19H22O6: C 65.88, H 6.40%, found: C
66.07, H 6.52.
(20-Methoxy)biphenyl-2-yl methyl acetate (11a). 0.28 g
(64%). White solid; mp 39–42 8C (AcOEt); n (KBr) cm21
1728 (nCO); lmax (CHCl3) nm (log 1) 280 (3.45), 250 (3.51);
dH (CDCl3) 7.39–7.30 (m, 4H, ArH), 7.23–7.19 (m, 1H,
ArH), 7.15 (dd, 1H, J¼7.6, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 7.01 (dt, 1H, J¼
7.6, 1.2 Hz, ArH), 6.94 (br d, 1H, J¼7.6 Hz, ArH), 3.71 (s,
3H, OCH3), 3.57 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.49 (s, 2H, CH2); dC
(CDCl3) 172.2 (CO), 156.3 (C), 138.8 (C), 133.0 (C), 131.3
(CH), 130.4 (CH), 129.9 (CH), 129.6 (C), 129.0 (CH), 127.5
(CH), 127.0 (CH), 120.5 (CH), 110.5 (CH), 55.2 (OCH3),
51.6 (OCH3), 38.7 (CH2); m/z (%) 256 (Mþ, 83), 225 (35),
224 (97), 197 (37), 182 (57), 181 (76), 166 (32), 165 (100),
152 (53); HMRS FAB calculated for C16H17O3 [MþH]þ
m/z 257.1178, found: 257.1170.
From this reaction, the following compounds were also
isolated: veratrol (14, 0.69 g) and 2,20,3,30-tetramethoxy-
biphenyl (13, 0.22 g), mp 96–99 8C (CH2Cl2).31
(20,30-Dimethoxy)biphenyl-2-yl methyl acetate (11b). 0.27 g
(56%). Colorless syrup; n (NaCl) cm21 1728 (nCO); lmax
(CHCl3) nm (log 1) 280 (3.15), 244 (3.60); dH (CDCl3)
7.5–7.2 (m, 4H, ArH), 7.09 (t, 1H, J¼7.6 Hz, ArH), 6.94
(dd, 1H, J¼7.6, 1.5 Hz, ArH), 6.72 (dd, 1H, J¼7.6, 1.5 Hz,
ArH), 3.88 (2£s, 2£3H, 2£OCH3), 3.50 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.37
(s, 2H, CH2); dC (CDCl3) 174.9 (CO), 152.7 (C), 145.7 (C),
138.0 (C), 135.3 (C), 133.7 (C), 130.1 (C), 129.4 (CH),
128.1 (CH), 126.8 (CH), 124.4 (CH), 122.7 (CH), 111.9
(CH), 60.7 (OCH3), 60.6 (OCH3), 55.7 (OCH3), 40.7 (CH2);
m/z (%): 286 (Mþ, 100), 255 (20), 227 (66); HRMS FAB
calculated for C17H19O4 [MþH]þ m/z 287.1283, found:
287.1289.
When the reaction was conducted as above, but using
K3PO4 as base and anhydrous DMF as solvent, 11e was
isolated in a 40% yield.
(20,4,5-Trimethoxy)biphenyl-2-yl methyl acetate (11f).
0.36 g (67%). Syrup that solidified on standing; mp 54–
57 8C; n (KBr) cm21 1726 (nCO); lmax (CHCl3) nm (log 1)
278 (3.70), 252 (3.71); dH (CDCl3) 7.33 (ddd, 1H, J¼8.2,
7.3, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 7.16 (dd, 1H, J¼7.3, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 6.99
(dt, 1H, J¼7.3, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 6.93 (br d, 1H, J¼8.2 Hz,
ArH), 6.87 (s, 1H, ArH), 6.72 (s, 1H, ArH), 3.90 (s, 3H,
OCH3), 3.83 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.72 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.58 (s, 3H,
OCH3), 3.40 (s, 2H, CH2); dC (CDCl3) 172.4 (CO), 156.4
(5,6-Dimethoxy)biphenyl-2-yl methyl acetate (11c). 0.40 g

5732
R. Suau et al. / Tetrahedron 60 (2004) 5725–5735
(C), 148.0 (C), 147.6 (C), 131.5 (CH), 130.8 (C), 129.4 (C),
128.8 (CH), 124.9 (C), 120.4 (CH), 113.4 (CH), 112.8 (CH),
110.5 (CH), 55.8 (2£OCH3), 55.2 (OCH3), 51.6 (OCH3),
38.2 (CH2); m/z (%) 316 (Mþ, 79), 257 (35), 226 (100), 211
(24), 181 (10); HRMS FAB calculated for C18H21O5
[MþH]þ m/z 317.1389, found: 317.1399.
(C), 126.1 (C), 123.8 (CH), 123.4 (CH), 111.8 (CH), 110.2
(CH), 109.9 (CH), 101.1 (OCH2O), 60.5 (OCH3), 55.8
(OCH3), 51.7 (OCH3), 38.4 (CH2); m/z (%) 330 (Mþ, 50),
315 (70), 271 (18), 241 (100). Anal. calculated for
C18H18O6: C 65.43, H 5.50%, found: C 65.42, H 5.51.
4.3. Preparation of amides 5a–c, 5e and 5j
(20,30,4,5-Tetramethoxy)biphenyl-2-yl methyl acetate (11g).
0.26 g (45%). Colorless crystals. Mp 63–65 8C;
n (KBr) cm21 1739 (nCO); lmax (CHCl3) nm (log 1) 282
(3.72), 248 (3.85); dH (CDCl3) 7.05 (dd, 1H, J¼8.2, 7.3 Hz,
ArH), 6.89 (dd, 1H, J¼8.2, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 6.84 (s, 1H, ArH),
6.76 (dd, 1H, J¼7.3, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 6.75 (s,1H, ArH), 3.88
(s, 3H, OCH3), 3.87 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.81 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.54
(s, 3H, OCH3), 3.47–3.46 (br s, 2H, CH2), 3.46 (s, 3H,
OCH3); dC (CDCl3) 172.4 (CO), 152.7 (C), 148.1 (C), 147.4
(C), 146.5 (C), 134.8 (C), 130.5 (C), 124.7 (C), 123.6 (CH),
123.3 (CH), 113.3 (CH), 112.6 (CH), 111.5 (CH), 60.4
(OCH3), 55.8 (OCH3), 55.8 (2£OCH3), 51.6 (OCH3), 38.2
(CH2); m/z (%) 346 (Mþ, 100), 314 (25), 299 (25), 256 (75),
241 (32), 225 (20); HRMS FAB calculated for C19H23O6
[MþH]þ m/z 347.1495, found: 347.1498.
A solution of esters 11a–c, 11e and 11j (1.2 mmol), sodium
cyanide (5.8 mg, 0.12 mmol) and methylamine (5 mL,
58 mmol) in methanol (10 mL) held in a sealed round-
bottom flask was stirred at 60 8C (bath temperature). After
2 h, the methanol was removed in vacuo, and the residue
was dissolved in CH2Cl2. This solution was washed with
water, dried and evaporated to dryness to obtain the
corresponding amides (5a–c, 5e and 5j).
4.3.1. Compound 5a. 0.29 g (96%). White solid; mp 125–
126 8C (Lit.11 125–126 8C). 5b: 0.30 g (89%), white solid;
mp 92–94 8C (Lit.11 93–96 8C). 5c: 0.31 g (92%), white
solid; mp 119–121 8C. 5e: 0.34 g (82%), yellowish syrup.11
5j: 0.33 g (85%), white solid; mp 176–180 8C.
From this reaction, 13 (0.20 g) and 14 (0.10 g) were also
isolated.
4.3.2. Preparation of 5k. A mixture of ester 11a (1.0 g,
3.9 mmol) and KOH (1.5 g, 26.3 mmol) in water (40 mL)
was refluxed to complete dissolution of the ester (ca.
30 min). The reaction mixture was then cooled at room
temperature and acidified with conc. HCl. The white solid
was filtered off, dried and dissolved in benzene (60 mL).
Over this solution cooled at 5 8C, pyridine (0.5 mL) and
oxalyl chloride (6.11 mL, 70.2 mmol) were added, the latter
dropwise. The mixture was stirred at 20 8C for 1 h. Benzene
and excess reagent were removed in vacuo and the resulting
acid chloride was dissolved in chloroform (3 mL). This
solution was added to a cooled (0 8C) mixture of p-anisidine
(3.1 mL, 35.1 mmol), TEA (1.3 mL) and chloroform
(6 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at 20 8C for
1/2 h and washed sequentially with 1 M NaOH, 1 M HCl
and water. The organic solution was dried over anhydrous
MgSO4 and concentrated in vacuo to give the amide 5k
(1.04 g), in 85% yield, as a white solid; mp 124–126 8C
(acetone); n (KBr) cm21 3304, 2937, 1724, 1510; lmax
(CHCl3) nm (log 1) 248 (3.84); dH (CDCl3) 7.5–6.7 (m,
12H, ArH), 3.75 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.67 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.51 (s,
2H, CH2); dC (CDCl3) 169.1 (CO), 156.1 (2£C), 138.9 (C),
133.5 (C), 129.4 (C), 131.1 (CH), 130.9 (CH), 130.0 (CH),
129.2 (CH), 128.1 (CH), 127.4 (CH), 121.3 (2£CH), 120.9
(CH), 113.9 (2£CH), 111.0 (CH), 55.5 (OCH3), 55.3 (CH2),
42.3 (CH2); m/z (%) 347 (Mþ, 14), 165 (25), 181 (10), 182
(11), 123 (100). Anal. calculated for C22H21NO3: C 76.05, H
6.10, N 4.03%, found: C 76.40, H 6.01, N 4.09.
(4,5-Methylenedioxy)biphenyl-2-yl methyl acetate (11h).
0.39 g (86%). Yellowish syrup; n (NaCl) cm21 1727; lmax
(CHCl3) nm (log 1) 294 (3.91), 256 (3.89); dH (CDCl3) 7.5–
7.2 (m, 5H, ArH), 6.82 (s, 1H, ArH), 6.74 (s, 1H, ArH), 5.98
(s, 2H, OCH2O), 3.63 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.49 (s, 2H, CH2); dC
(CDCl3) 172.2 (CO), 146.8 (C), 146.4 (C), 140.7 (C), 135.8
(C), 129.1 (2£CH), 128.0 (2£CH), 126.8 (CH),124.7 (C),
109.9 (CH), 109.8 (CH), 101.0 (OCH2O), 51.6 (OCH3),
38.2 (CH2); m/z (%) 270 (Mþ, 61), 211 (22), 181 (100), 152
(29), 153 (28). Anal. calculated for C16H14O4: C 71.09, H
5.22%, found: C 71.00, H 5.29.
(20-Methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxy)biphenyl-2-yl methyl acetate
(11i). 0.39 g (76%). White solid; mp 70–72 8C;
n (KBr) cm21 1736 (nCO); lmax (CHCl3) nm (log 1) 284
(3.79), 248 (3.68); dH (CDCl3) 7.32 (ddd, 1H, J¼8.2, 7.3,
1.8 Hz, ArH), 7.11 (dd, 1H, J¼7.3, 1.8 Hz, ArH), 6.97 (dt,
1H, J¼7.3, 1.1 Hz, ArH), 6.92 (br d, 1H, J¼8.2 Hz, ArH),
6.84 (s, 1H, ArH), 6.68 (s, 1H, ArH), 5.96–5.95 (br d, 2H,
OCH2O), 3.71 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.58 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.36 (s,
2H, CH2); dC (CDCl3) 172.3 (CO), 156.5 (C), 147.0 (C),
146.5 (C), 132.0 (C), 131.5 (CH), 129.3 (C), 128.9 (CH),
126.2 (C), 120.5 (CH), 110.6 (CH), 110.5 (CH), 110.1 (CH),
101.1 (OCH2O), 55.3 (OCH3), 51.7 (OCH3), 38.4 (CH2);
m/z (%) 300 (Mþ, 51), 268 (25), 211 (100), 183 (23), 152
(20), 139 (27); HRMS FAB calculated for C17H17O5
[MþH]þ m/z 301.1076, found: 301.1063.
(20,30-Dimethoxy-4,5-methylenedioxy)biphenyl-2-yl methyl
acetate (11j). 0.14 g (59%). White solid; mp 122–125 8C
(AcOEt); n (KBr) cm21 1730; lmax (CHCl3) nm (log 1) 288
(3.89), 252 (3.93); dH (CDCl3) 7.07 (t, 1H, J¼8.0 Hz, ArH),
6.91 (d, 1H, J¼8.0 Hz, ArH), 6.84 (s, 1H, ArH), 6.74 (d, 1H,
J¼8.0 Hz, ArH), 6.73 (s, 1H, ArH), 5.99 (d, 2H, J¼2.2 Hz,
OCH2O), 3.90 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.58 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.52 (s,
3H, OCH3), 3.44 (s, 2H, CH2); dC (CDCl3) 172.3 (CO),
152.8 (C), 147.0 (C), 146.5 (C), 146.3 (C), 134.9 (C), 131.7
4.3.3. Reaction of biarylacetamides 5a–c, 5e, 5j and 5k
with (COCl)2/SnCl4. Over a N2 degassed solution of the
biphenyl acetamides (5, 4 mmol) in dichloromethane
(8 mL) oxalyl chloride (0.83 mL, 10 mmol) was added.
The flask was tightly sealed with a septum and heated at
60 8C, and stannyl chloride (1.2 mL, 10 mmol) was added.
The reaction mixture was stirred at 60 8C (oil bath
temperature) for 24 h, diluted with dichloromethane and
supplied with 2 M HCl. The dichloromethane was separated
and washed with water. The organic layer was dried over
MgSO4 and concentrated in vacuo. The reaction crude was

R. Suau et al. / Tetrahedron 60 (2004) 5725–5735
5733
purified by preparative tlc (SiO2, 20:0.4 CH2Cl2:CH3OH) to
obtain the aporphinoids 15a–c, 15e, 15j,k.
From this reaction, 8-methoxy-phenanthro[9,10-b]furano-
4,5-dione (16) was also isolated: 0.16 g (18%), red solid; mp
196–198 8C dec. (Lit.11 196–197 8C)..
2-Demethoxy-cepharadione-B (15a). 1.09 g (96%). Yellow-
orange solid; mp 256–258 8C (EtOH) (Lit.10a 255–257 8C).
4.4. Synthesis of 5c by Meyers’ coupling
Cepharadione-B(15b). 0.84 g (65%). Orange solid; mp
266–270 8C (EtOH) (Lit.32 266–268 8C).
4.4.1. Preparation of 23. Iodobenzene 21 (3 g, 14.7 mmol)
was added over a mixture of magnesium (0.39 g, 1.6 mmol)
in dry THF (80 mL). After refluxing for 1 h, the reaction
mixture was cooled. Then, a solution of the oxazoline 2227
(2.1 g, 7.9 mmol) in dry THF (60 mL) was added. After
30 min at 20 8C, the reaction mixture was refluxed for 5 h.
The solvent was removed and the residue dissolved in
CH2Cl2. The organic layer was washed with 1 M HCl,
water, dried over MgSO4 and concentrated under reduced
pressure. The crude residue was treated with MeI (100 mL)
at 20 8C for 12 h. The excess MeI was removed in vacuo and
a 1:1 solution of methanol:20% aq. NaOH was added. The
solution was refluxed for 12 h, the MeOH being removed in
vacuo and the residue dissolved in 1 M NaOH. The aqueous
layer was washed with TBME, acidified with concentrated
HCl, diluted with water and filtered to obtain 23 as a white
solid; overall yield: 1.3 g (61%); mp 190–195 8C (Et2O);
n (KBr) cm21 3500–2300, 1685, 1673; lmax (CHCl3) nm
(log 1): 286 sh (3.21), 252 (3.71); dH (CDCl3þTFA) 7.94 (d,
1H, J¼8.8 Hz, ArH), 7.4–7.3 (m, 3H, ArH), 7.25–7.15 (m,
2H, ArH), 7.01 (d, 1H, J¼8.8 Hz, ArH), 3.97 (s, 3H, OCH3),
3.53 (s, 3H, OCH3); dC (CDCl3þTFA) 172.9 (CO), 157.3
(C), 145.9 (C), 139.6 (C), 135.6 (C), 129.5 (CH), 128.8
(2£CH), 127.8 (2£CH), 127.6 (CH), 120.6 (C), 110.8 (CH),
61.0 (OCH3), 56.0 (OCH3); m/z (%) 258 (Mþ, 100), 225
(36), 184 (29). Anal. calculated for C45H44O13: C 68.17, H
5.59%, found: C 67.87, H 5.42.
4,5-Dioxo-O,O0-dimethylapomorphine (15c). 0.55 g (43%).
Red solid; mp 215–217 8C (CHCl3/MeOH); n (KBr) cm21
3480, 1652; lmax (EtOH) nm (log 1): 460 (3.52), 374 (3.25),
318 (3.61), 250 sh (4.13), 240 (4.19), 204 (4.13); dH
(CDCl3) 10.09 (dd, 1H, J¼8.5, 1.0 Hz, ArH), 8.62 (dd, 1H,
J¼8.5, 1.0 Hz, ArH), 7.88 (t, 1H, J¼8.5 Hz, ArH), 7.67 (d,
1H, J¼8.7 Hz, ArH), 7.52 (s, 1H, H-7), 7.39 (d, 1H, J¼
8.7 Hz, ArH), 4.05 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.97 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.84
(s, 3H, NCH3); dC (CDCl3) 176.7 (CO), 156.5 (CO), 152.2
(C), 146.9 (C), 136.0 (CH), 130.7 (C), 130.0 (C), 129.1
(CH), 128.0 (CH), 127.4 (C), 127.3 (C), 125.6 (CH), 123.4
(C), 121.7 (C), 115.1 (CH), 114.5 (CH), 59.8 (OCH3), 55.5
(OCH3), 30.5 (NCH3); m/z (%) 321 (Mþ, 100), 293 (12),
278 (34), 250 (32), 235 (38). Anal. calculated for
C19H15NO4: C 71.01, H 4.71, N 4.36%, found: C 71.05, H
4.80, N 4.39.
From the crude of this reaction, 1-methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-
dibenzo[e,g]indano-4,5-dione (20) was also isolated: 64 mg
(19%), red solid; mp 164–169 8C; n (KBr) cm21 1698; lmax
(CHCl3) nm (log 1): 414 (2.67), 346 sh (3.12), 304 (3.53),
258 (4.09); dH (CDCl3) 9.79 (m, 1H, ArH), 8.66 (d, 1H,
J¼8.8 Hz, ArH), 8.49 (m, 1H, ArH), 7.82 (dt, 1H, J¼8.6,
1.5 Hz, ArH), 7.64 (dt, 1H, J¼8.6, 1.2 Hz, ArH), 7.37 (d,
1H, J¼8.8 Hz, ArH), 4.03 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.90 (s, 3H,
OCH3), 3.79 (s, 3H, NCH3); dC (CDCl3) 182.0 (CO), 160.5
(CO), 154.5 (C), 151.3 (C), 147.0 (C), 136.3 (C), 131.6
(CH), 129.6 (CH), 127.1 (CH), 124.6 (CH), 122.2 (C), 121.8
(C), 121.6 (C), 120.2 (CH), 115.8 (CH), 60.0 (OCH3), 56.5
(OCH3), 31.7 (NCH3); m/z (%) 321 (Mþ, 100), 306 (7), 293
(7), 278 (28), 250 (25); HRMS calculated for C19H15NO4
[Mþ] m/z 321.1001, found: 321.1000.
4.4.2. Homologation reaction. A N2 purged solution of 23
(1 g, 3.9 mmol) in dry THF (20 mL) was supplied with LAH
(0.17 g, 4 mmol) in small portions over a period of 30 min.
After stirring the reaction medium for 1 h at 20 8C, excess
hydride was decomposed by addition of 1 M H2SO4 and
the resulting suspension treated with more dilute acid
and extracted with TBME. The extracts were carefully
dried over MgSO4 and the volume reduced to 15 mL.
This ether solution was ice cooled and thionyl chloride
(0.44 mL, 5.9 mmol) was added dropwise. The mixture
was stirred at 20 8C for 30 min. TBME and excess
thionyl chloride were removed in vacuo. The crude
product was dissolved in acetonitrile (40 mL), NaCN (2 g,
40 mmol) being then added and the mixture refluxed for
48 h. After evaporation of the solvent, the residue was
dissolved in H2O, extracted with CHCl3, dried over
MgSO4 and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain
a white solid.
4,5-Dioxodehydrocorydine (15e). 1.07 g (73%). Orange
solid; mp 258–262 8C (EtOH) (Lit.11 258–262 8C).
Corydione (15j). 0.57 g (39%). Red solid; mp 267–272 8C
(MeOH) (Lit.33 273–275 8C).
N-p-(Methoxyphenyl)-2-demethoxy-cepharadione-B (15k).
0.67 g (61%). Yellow solid; mp .300 8C (CHCl3);
n (KBr) cm21 1650; dH (DMSO-d6) 9.50 (br d, 1H,
J¼8.7 Hz, H-11), 8.64 (d, 1H, J¼8.8 Hz, ArH), 7.78–7.74
(m, 2H, ArH), 7.70–7.57 (m, 2H, ArH), 7.40 (d, 2H, J¼
8.8 Hz, ArH), 7.20 (d, 2H, J¼8.8 Hz, ArH), 6.94 (s, 1H,
H-7), 4.32 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.89 (s, 3H, OCH3); dC (CDCl3þ
TFA) 176.0 (CO), 160.6 (C), 159.0 (CO), 134.1 (C), 131.7
(C), 131.5 (CH), 131.3 (CH), 130.4 (CH), 129.5 (CH), 129.3
(2£CH), 128.3 (CH), 128.0 (CH), 124.3 (C), 122.4 (C),
120.1 (C), 116.1 (2£CH), 115.0 (C), 114.8 (C), 114.7 (C),
112.1 (CH), 57.0 (OCH3), 55.9 (OCH3); m/z (%) 383
(Mþ, 59), 355 (100), 340 (53). Anal. calculated for
C24H17NO4: C 75.17, H 4.47, N 3.66%, found: C 75.27, H
4.51, N 3.88.
To an ice cooled solution of this solid (0.9 g, 3.3 mmol) and
pyridine (0.3 mL) in benzene (50 mL), oxalyl chloride
(5.8 mL, 66 mmol) was added dropwise. The mixture was
stirred at 20 8C for 30 min. Benzene and excess reagent
were removed in vacuo and the resulting acid chloride was
dissolved in acetone (3 mL). This solution was added to a
cooled mixture of methylamine (40% in water, 2.6 mL,
33 mmol), TEA (1.2 mL) and water (2 mL). The reaction
mixture was stirred at 20 8C for 1 h and washed sequentially
with 1 M NaOH, 1 M HCl, and water. The organic solution

5734
R. Suau et al. / Tetrahedron 60 (2004) 5725–5735
was dried over anhydrous MgSO4 and concentrated in vacuo
to obtain 5c. Overall yield: 0.84 g (90%).
(CDCl3) 8.25 (m, 1H, H-11), 7.13–7.32 (m, 3H, ArH), 7.04
(d, 1H, J¼8.4 Hz, ArH), 6.88 (d, 1H, J¼8.4 Hz, ArH), 3.85
(s, 3H, OCH3), 3.2–3.0 (m, 4H), 2.8–2.4 (m, 3H), 2.54 (s,
3H, NCH3); dC (CDCl3) 154.8 (C-1), 136.4 (C), 136.0 (C),
132.1 (C), 128.6 (CH), 128.4 (CH), 127.5 (CH), 126.7 (CH),
126.3 (CH), 125.3 (C), 121.8 (C), 110.7 (CH), 62.8 (C-6a),
55.6 (OCH3), 53.2 (CH2), 43.9 (NCH3), 34.6, 28.4 (2£CH2);
m/z (%) 266 (Mþ, 17), 265 (95), 264 (100), 222 (82); HRMS
calculated for C18H19NO [Mþ] m/z 265.1466, found:
265.1461.
4.5. Reduction of 4,5-dioxoaporphines
4.5.1. Reduction with BH3·THF. A mixture of the 4,5-di-
oxoaporphines 15a,b (0.2 mmol) and BH3·THF (3 mL)
under an N2 atmosphere at 0 8C was slowly warmed to 20 8C
(3 h). The reaction mixture was concentrated to dryness and
the residue dissolved in chloroform. The organic layer was
washed with water, dried over MgSO4 and concentrated in
vacuo to obtain the 4-hydroxy-dehydroaporphines 17a,b.
(^)-Nuciferine (19b). 0.037 g (83%). Yellowish syrup
which crystallizes on standing; mp 133–136 8C (Lit.4a
134.5–135.5 8C).
4-Hydroxy-2-demethoxy-dehydronuciferine (17a). 0.040 g
(72%). Syrup; n (KBr) cm21 3349; lmax (CHCl3) nm
(log 1): 374 sh (3.17), 330 (3.67), 266 (4.09), 250 (4.16);
dH (CDCl3) 9.49 (br dd, 1H, J¼8.3 Hz, H-11), 7.71 (dd, 1H,
J¼8.3, 1.3 Hz, H-8), 7.53, 7.16 (2£d, 2£1H, J¼8.0 Hz, H-2,
H-3), 7.5–7.3 (m, 2H, H-9, H-10), 6.86 (s, 1H, H-7), 4.95
(br t, 1H, H-4), 4.10 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.42 (dd, 1H, J¼11.5,
3.5 Hz, H-5), 3.49 (dd, 1H, J¼11.5, 2.7 Hz, H-5), 3.14 (s,
3H, NCH3); dC (CDCl3) 159.1 (C-1), 142.0 (C), 133.8 (C),
128.3 (CH), 127.8 (C), 126.6 (CH), 126.4 (CH), 126.1 (CH),
125.1 (C), 124.4 (C), 123.1 (CH), 121.4 (C), 108.7 (CH),
105.4 (CH), 68.0 (C-4), 57.5 (CH2), 55.8 (OCH3), 40.5
(NCH3); m/z (%) 279 (Mþ, 100), 264 (14), 246 (41). Anal.
calculated for C18H17NO2·1H2O: C 72.71, H 6.44, N 4.71%,
found: C 72.81, H 6.47, N 4.80.
(^)-O,O-Dimethylapomorphine (19c). 0.047 g (78%), yel-
lowish syrup.34
Acknowledgements
Financial support from the Spanish Government (Project
DGI BQU 2001/1890) is gratefully acknowledged. F. J. O.
L. also wishes to acknowledge an award of a grant from this
project.
References and notes
4-Hydroxy-dehydronuciferine (17b). 0.049 g (79%). Syrup;
n (KBr) cm21 3373; lmax (CHCl3) nm (log 1): 376 sh
(2.85), 332 (3.50), 292 sh (3.44), 256 (4.01); dH (CDCl3)
9.46 (br dd, 1H, J¼8.0, 1.8 Hz, H-11), 7.67 (dd, 1H, J¼8.0,
1.4 Hz, H-8), 7.47 (dt, 1H, J¼8.0, 1.8 Hz, H-9), 7.36 (dt,
1H, J¼8.4, 1.0 Hz, H-10), 7.32 (s, 1H, H-3), 6.67 (s, 1H,
H-7), 4.92 (br t, 1H, H-4), 4.02 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.89 (s, 3H,
OCH3), 3.51 (dd, 1H, J¼11.4, 2.6 Hz, H-5), 3.41 (dd, 1H,
J¼11.4, 3.8 Hz, H-50), 3.11 (s, 3H, NCH3); dC (CDCl3)
151.5 (C-1), 147.2 (C-2), 142.0 (C), 134.4 (C), 130.4 (C),
127.7 (CH), 127.0 (CH), 126.6 (CH), 125.7 (C), 124.6 (C),
123.4 (CH), 118.1 (C), 111.6 (CH), 103.1 (CH), 68.3 (C-4),
59.7 (OCH3), 57.6 (CH2), 56.3 (OCH3), 40.4 (NCH3); m/z
(%) 309 (Mþ, 100); HRMS calculated for C19H19NO3 [Mþ]
m/z 309.1365, found: 309.1364.
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