title: Cascade assembly of the benzo[a]anthraquinone ring system common to the angucycline antibiotics.
abstract: A benzo[a]anthraquinone ring system, common to a group of angucycline antibiotics, has been prepared by a unique cascade of reactions. The reaction sequence was initiated by a Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling between a bromoquinone and vinyl boronic anhdyride. The reaction product is proposed to undergo a 6π-electron cyclization triggered by reductive activation of the quinone. The reaction process is proposed to be autocatalytic.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 77842 3012, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baranczak
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Sulikowski