A Novel Practical Synthesis of Phenanthrenes Using Iron(III) Chloride Involved Intramolecular Oxidative Coupling at Room Temperature

Abstract

Iron(III) chloride has been used to prepare the polymethoxy substituted phenanthrene derivatives via intramolecular oxidative coupling of (E or Z)-2,3-di(substituted phenyl)acrylate at room temperature in excellent yields. Mild reaction conditions and the use of inexpensive and nontoxic FeCl 3 provide a novel practical and large-scaled viable route for the synthesis of the important phenanthrene rings.