In the course of our search for compounds with potential antitumor properties we have undertaken the synthesis of benzoc]1,8]phenanthroline derivatives. Our project required the preparation of 8,9‐dimethoxy benzoc]1,8]phenanthrolin‐6‐ones. This was first attempted by the lithiumdiisopropylamide cyclization of N‐(isoquinol‐5‐yl)‐2‐bromo‐4,5‐dimethoxybenzamide. The reaction led to 40% of the unexpected internal Diels‐Alder adduct 3,4‐dimethoxy‐6H‐pyrido2,3‐i]6,8a‐ethenoindolocd]isoquinoline‐2(1H)‐one, which arose from a benzyne intermediate. In a second and more successful approach, the internal biaryl palladium diacetate‐assisted coupling reaction of properly N‐protected N‐(isoquinol‐5‐yl)‐2‐bromo‐4,5‐dimethoxybenzamide was studied. The optimisation of the protecting group necessary for this procedure led to a 64% yield of the target compound starting from N,N‐(isoquinol‐5‐yl)‐bis‐(2‐bromo‐4,5‐dimethoxybenzamide).
