Abstract A concise, highly convergent, and practical synthesis of the clinical-phase anticancer agent batracylin in a two-stage process in excellent yield is described. The B and C rings of this tetracyclic heterocycle are constructed by cascade cyclization of 5-nitro-2- aminobenzyl alcohol with 2-cyanomethyl benzoate in trifluoroacetic acid in good yield in a single-pot reaction. A plausible mechanism for the cascade reaction is also proposed. As ...
