Rh. Hutchings et Ai. Meyers, AN OXAZOLINE-MEDIATED SYNTHESIS OF THE PYRROLOPHENANTHRIDINE ALKALOIDS AND SOME NOVEL DERIVATIVES, Journal of organic chemistry, 61(3), 1996, pp. 1004-1013
An unsymmetrical biaryl coupling between the Grignard of N-benzyl-7-br
omoindoline 25 and the appropriately substituted (o-methoxyaryl)oxazol
ine 15 leads to an intermediate biaryl which can be elaborated in one
step to the 1H-pyrrolo[3,2,1-de]phenanthridine ring system. This simpl
e two-step sequence provides general access to the pyrrolophenanthridi
ne alkaloids 2-6.