<p>Four multicaulin and miltirone-like phenanthrene derivatives were synthesised and evaluated as antituberculosis agents. The crucial step of the synthesis was Pschorr coupling of 4-(3-isopropyl-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(2-aminophenyl)ethane (<b>13</b>) to give 2-isopropyl-3-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (<b>9</b>) and 4-isopropyl-3-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (<b>9a</b>). Compound <b>9</b> was converted to multicaulin and miltirone-like phenanthrene derivatives by further reactions. The best antituberculosis activity was exhibited by 2-isopropylphenanthrene-3-ol (<b>11</b>).</p
