Synthesis of a tetracyclic lactam system of Nuevamine by four-component reaction and free radical cyclization

A series of aza-analogs of nuevamine were prepared from readily available aldehyde, amine, and isonitrile compounds and maleic anhydride by combining a novel four-component reaction and free radical cyclization. The operational simplicity of this novel heterocycle synthesis process will be valuable for the synthesis of fused ring systems. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.