Synthesis of juncunone: an unusual dihydrophenanthrene from Juncus roemerianus
Abstract
A efficient synthesis of the biogenetically unusual 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene, juncunone, is reported; the key step involves ring-closure of a (Z)-2-chlorostilbene to a phenanthrene by an intramolecular homolytic substitution induced by activated magnesium.