Abstract Studies directed towards the construction of the CDE ring framework of dynemycin A (1) are reported. A series of quinoline based dienophiles containing an activating group (eg. 5, Scheme 1), reacted with acyclic dienes (eg. 4, Scheme 1) in a Diels-Alder fashion under increased pressure to afford a variety of heterocyclic systems related to the CDE skeleton of dynemycin A. Reaction of dienophile 15 with cyclic diene 29 led to the novel ...
