A variety of alkyl- and dialkylphenanthren-9-ylamines 1 and 2 have been prepared by radical-mediated cyclizations of the corresponding diaryleneamines 3 issued from Horner reactions between appropriate phosphorylated dibenzylamines 4 and halogenoarylaldehydes 5.
A convenient and versatile short-step synthesis of dioxoaporphines, illustrated by the first total synthesis of the alkaloid N-methylouregidione (1c), is described.