Synthesis and Reactivity of Cinnoline-Fused Cyclic Enediyne

A short and efficient synthesis of cinnoline-fused cyclic enediyne is reported. Richter cydization of o-(1,3-butadiynyl)phenyltriazene produced 3-alkynyl-4-bromocinnoline. The Sonogashira coupling of the latter with 5-hexyn-1-ol was employed for the introduction of a second acetylenic moiety. The crucial cyclization step was achieved under Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi conditions. Cinnoline-fused 10-membered ring enediyne is more reactive than corresponding carbocyclic analog and produces good yield of the Bergman cyclization product upon mild heating. This enediyne induces single-strand dDNA scissions upon incubation at 40 degrees C.