A new phenazine synthesis. The synthesis of griseoluteic acid, griseolutein A, and methyl diacetylgriseolutein B
Abstract
2-Nitrodiphenylamines are reductively cyclized to phenazines by sodium borohydride in ethanolic sodium ethoxide solution: the method has been used to provide the first synthesis of griseoluteic acid and thence of griseolutein A, confirming the allotted structures, and of methyl diacetylgriseolutein B, modifying the suggested structure.