Recent progress in the total synthesis of naphthyridinomycin and lemonomycin tetrahydroisoquinoline antitumor antibiotics (TAAs)

In this tutorial review, which should be of general interest to synthetic organic chemists at large, recent progress in the total synthesis of the tetrahydroisoquinoline antitumor antibiotics cyanocycline A, naphthyridinomycin, bioxalomycin alpha(2), and lemonomycin is highlighted in detail and some biological background information is given as well. Preparations of truncated derivatives and uncompleted synthetic approaches are also described. The literature coverage includes the newest research results through the year 2008.