Synthetic Anthracyclines From Anthraquinones

Abstract

Our syntheses of important and novel daunomycinones, aklavinones, fridarnycins and vineomycinones, from 1,4- or 1,5-dihydroxyanthraquinones, are reviewed. The reductive Claisen rearrangement has proven to be the most versatile of the methods developed for appending rings or functionalized side chains. Some novel polycyclic systems have been made, some interesting new properties of substituted quinizarins and anthrarufins uncovered, and new methods for elaboration of allyl systems developed.