Construction of Pyrrolophenanthridinone Scaffolds Mediated by Samarium(II) Diiodide and Access to Natural Product Synthesis.

Abstract 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.