The synthesis of a potential bisintercalating ethidium bromide analog

The synthesis of diethyl-1,3,4,13b-tetrahydro-13b-phenyl-2H-pyrimido[1,2-f]phenanthridine-7,12-dicarba-mate and N,N′-3,3′[5,5′-Bis(3,8-biscarbethoxyamino-6-phenyl)phenanthridinium]propylglutarylamide dichloride are reported starting from 3,8-biscarbethoxyamino-5-(3′-bromopropyl)-6-phenylphenanthridinium bromide.