Tandem Dehydrogenation/Oxidation/Oxidative Cyclization Approach to Wrightiadione and Its Derivatives

Wrightiadione contains a unique tetracyclic isoflavone moiety and has been shown to exhibit a broad range of biological activities. An efficient and Straightforward synthetic method for generating the molecular complexity,of wrightiadione was developed, through three-step tandem dehydrogenation/oxidation/oxidative cyclization reactions with a Pd/Cu. catalytic system. This Unprecedented one-pot route utilizes a broad: range of substrates, providing a convenient and powerful synthetic tool for accessing naturally occurring tetracyclic isoflavone wrightiadione and its nitrogen-containing derivatives.