Intramolecular Nicholas Reactions in the Synthesis of Dibenzocycloheptanes. Synthesis of Allocolchicine NSC 51046 and Analogues and the Formal Synthesis of (−)-Allocolchicine

Abstract

The preparation of dibenzocycloheptyne-Co2(CO)6 complexes by intramolecular Nicholas reactions of biaryl-2-propargyl alcohol-Co2(CO)6 derivatives is described. Reductive decomplexation of the dibenzocycloheptyne-Co2(CO)6 complexes affords the corresponding dibenzocycloheptenes, individual members of which have been employed in a formal total synthesis of (−)-allocolchicine, the preparation of 6,7-dihydro-3,4,9,10,11-pentamethoxy-5H-dibenzo[a,c]cyclohepten-5-one, and the enantioselective total syntheses of NSC 51046 and its 3,8,9,10-tetramethoxy regioisomer