Total synthesis of the natural product benzo[j]-fluoranthene-4, 9-diol : an approach to the synthesis of oxygenated benzo[j]fluoranthenes

A synthetic sequence to the benzo[j]fluoranthene nucleus is described. Crucial steps of the procedure include a Suzuki coupling between appropriately substituted 2-bromo-acenaphthylene-1-carbaldehydes and 2-formylbenzeneboronates followed by McMurry ring closure. The synthesis represents a new approach to the benzo[j]fluoranthene ring system and specifically provides a method for the rapid preparation of differently substituted derivatives. Following this strategy, the first total synthesis of the recently isolated natural product benzo[j]fluoranthene-4,9-diol was carried out.