2(1H)-Quinolones are classified as aromatic heterocycles.With regard to reactions of 2(1H)-quinolones, substitution reactions [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] have been widely reported, but little attention has been focused on addition reactions. Diels-Alder (DA) reaction of 2(1H)-quinolones with diene afforded the phenanthridones in one pot. Recently, Weltin verified the ability of the 6(5H)-phenanthridones to inhibit poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP) activity in lymphoma cells. [9][10][11][12] Furthermore, Cheng reported that 8,9-dimethoxyphenanthridinium salts (A, Chart 1) possess activity against leukemias P388.
13)We reported the synthesis of functionalized phenanthridones by novel DA reaction of 1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolones having an electron-withdrawing group (such as methoxycarbonyl, acetyl, cyano) at the 4-or 3-position that acts as a dienophlie.14-17) It is well known that the nitro group function as a leaving group and a strong electron-withdrawing group. Herein, we report the synthesis of 6(5H)-phenanthridones by DA reaction of 3-nitro-2(1H)-quinolones under atmospheric and high pressure (AP and HP) conditions, and we investigate of the reactivity of the 2(1H)-quinolones using molecular orbital (MO) calculation.DA Reaction Firstly, DA reactions of 3-nitro-(1a) and 3,6-dinitro-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolones (1b) 18,19) with 1,3-butadienes (2a, b) were investigated under AP and HP conditions, as shown in Table 1 and Chart 1. DA reactions of 1a, b with 1-methoxy-1,3-butadiene (2a) were carried out at 180°C for 5 d in o-xylene (entries 1, 4), and gave 6(5H)-phenanthridones (3a, 20) 83%; 3b, 68%), respectively. The same reaction of 3a at 160°C for 3 d (entry 2), also afforded 3a (63%). On the other hand, DA reaction of 1a with 2a was performed under HP conditions (10 kbar) at 90°C for 2 d (entry 3), and gave endo-DA adduct (4a, 57%) and exo-DA adduct (4b, 20%), respectively. Heating of 4a, b at 180°C in sealed tube produced 3a (67%, 64%, respetively) aromatized by elimination of hydrogen and nitrogen dioxide (HNO 2 ), followed by release of MeOH. These facts indicated that 3a, b resulted from release of HNO 2 and MeOH of corresponding DA adducts (such as 4a) under AP conditions. Furthermore, DA reactions of 1a with 2,3-dimethoxy-1,3-butadiene (2b) at 180°C under AP condition gave 1-methyl-8,9-dimethoxy-6(5H)-phenanthridone (6a 3) ; 31%, 45%, entries 5, 6) which was the synthetic intermediate for A possessing a bioactivity. DA reactions of 1b with 2b at 180°C afforded 1-methyl-8,9-dimethoxy-2-nitro-6(5H)-phenanthridone (6b; 17%, 13%, entries 7, 8) in poor yields. But, DA reactions of 1a, b with 2b under HP condition (10 kbar) at 90°C for 2 d afforded DA adducts (5a, 57%; 5b, 55%, entries 9, 10) in reasonable yields. Heating of 5a, b at 180°C produced 6a (48%) and 6b (40%) aromatized by release of HNO 2 , followed by dehydrogenation, respectively. The stereochemistries of the group at C-7 in 4a, b were determined by nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) measurement of 1 H-NMR spectra. The spectrum of 4a indicated a correlatio...