A novel racemization mechanism for the α-hydroxy ketone moiety(C9-position) of optically active anthracyclinone derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)81989-9

The facile acid-catalyzed racemization of optically active anthracyclinone derivatives((S)(+)-1a,b) was found to proceed through the ring-expanded seven-membered α-hydroxyketones(2 and/or 3 for (S)(+)-1a) by subjecting various plausible intermediates to t