Organocatalyzed aerobic oxidative Robinson-type annulation of 2-isocyanochalcones: expedient synthesis of phenanthridines

Abstract

A DBU-catalyzed aerobic oxidative Robinson annulation of 2-isocyanochalcones with active methylene ketones was developed for the expedient synthesis of phenanthridines in high to excellent yields. This unprecedented multistep domino reaction represents a new strategy for the construction of this tricyclic scaffold by the sequential formation of two rings and three C-C bonds in a single operation at room temperature.