Saframycin MX1 (1) 1 is a member of a group of isoquinoline natural products, including renieramycins, 2 jorumycin, 3 and ecteinascidin 743 (Et-743), 4 that show promise in the treatment of some cancers. 5 Because of the potential clinical efficacy of Et-743, several synthetic and semisynthetic routes to this compound class have been reported. [6], [7] and [8] In addition, combinatorial strategies have been employed to increase structural diversity of saframycins and their relatives. 9 ...