Tetrahedron

Tandem radical reactions of isonitriles with 2-pyridonyl and other aryl radicals: Scope and limitations, and a first generation synthesis of (±)-camptothecin

DP Curran, H Liu, H Josien, SB Ko

Index: Curran, Dennis P.; Liu, Hui; Josien, Hubert; Ko, Sung-Bo Tetrahedron, 1996 , vol. 52, # 35 p. 11385 - 11404

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Citation Number: 114

Abstract

Photolysis of N-propargyl-6-halo-2-pyridones and related aromatic halides in the presence of aryl isonitriles provides tetra-and penta-cyclic products in a single step by a sequence of radical addition to the isonitrile followed by two cyclizations. The scope and limitations of the process are described along with a first generation synthesis of racemic camptothecin.