Directed ortho metalation - cross coupling connections. Remote lateral metalation - cyclization of 2-imino-2′-methyl biaryls to 9-aminophenanthrenes. A synthesis of the alkaloid piperolactam C
coupling protocol, undergo lithium diethyl amide-mediated metalation - cyclization to give 9-aminophenanthrenes (Table 1). The application of this new general methodology to the first synthesis of the alkaloidpiperolactamC (9) is described.