RADICAL CYCLIZATION TO APORPHINES - A NEW, EFFICIENT TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF THE APORPHINE GLAUCINE AND THE 4,5-DIOXOAPORPHINE PONTEVEDRINE, ANDTHE FIRST TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF 5-OXOAPORPHINES

We describe the radical cyclization of bromobenzylisoquinolines and be nzylisoquinolin-3-ones, which afford aporphines or the novel 5-oxoapor phines and 5-oxodehydroaporphines respectively. Oxidation of the latte r compounds provides a new route to 4,5-dioxoaporphines.