Synthesis of chlorine-containing angucycline BE-23254 and its analogs

The total synthesis of BE-23254, an unusual angucycline antibiotic is reported. This is achieved by adopting a Hauser annulation and a DDQ-promoted aromatization as the key steps. The strategy has been generalized for the synthesis of several analogs of the target molecule. A regioselective preparation of chlorine-containing phenols is also described.