A First Synthesis of Isofagar-idine:Topoisomerase I Inhibitor

We have reported the convenient biomimetic methodology for the synthesis of all kinds of substituent pattern benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids (Hanaoka et al., 1990; Hanaoka et al., 1991). Regioselective demethylation of C-8 position on oxyfagaridine (5), an intermediate for the synthesis of Fagaridine (4), would afford the precursor for the synthesis of Isofagaridine because the strong hydrogen bonding between amide and hydroxyl group of C-7 position probably resists to be reacted with week base and electrophiles. Thus, a selective alkylation of dihydroxy compound supposed to be possible and be lead to the target compound, Isofagaridine.