A concise and efficient synthesis of benzo[c]phenanthridines was accomplished by the palladium-catalyzed ring-opening coupling of azabicyclic alkene with o-iodobenzoates, followed by tandem cyclization. The strategy was successfully applied in the total synthesis of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids such as sanguinarine, chelerythrine, nitidine and avicine.

The tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-promoted sequential carboxamidation and aromatisation of isonitriles with formamides was developed. This procedure tolerates a series of functional groups, such as methyl, fluoro, chloro, acetyl, methoxy carbonyl and cyano. This reaction involved the addition of formamide radicals to isonitriles and sequential C-C bond formation by intramolecular aromatic cyc...

A new method for preparing naphthyl amines from 1,5 unsaturated dicarbonyl precursors is described; the utility of this new method was proven in the syntheses of several natural products, all containing the benzo[c]phenanthridine core and enabled by a radical promoted cyclisation of the naphthyl amine products formed in the key cyclisation.

The binding of ethidium bromide (EtdBr) to the dC-dG-dC-dG self-complementary duplex has been monitored at the resolvable drug and nucleic acid protons and backbone phosphates at high nucleotide/drug (N/D) ratios by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in aqueous solution. We observe averaged resonances (25 degrees-95 degrees) for the nucleic acid and drug nonexchangeable protons in th...

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common throughout the universe. Their detection and identification are based on the comparison of IR observations with laboratory spectra. Polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles (PANHs) are heterocyclic aromatics, i.e., PAHs with carbon atoms replaced by a nitrogen atom. These molecules should be present in the interstellar medium, but have receive...