Synthesis of highly functionalized 9,10-phenanthrenequinones by oxidative coupling using MoCl5

The strong oxidative power of molybdenum pentachloride gives rise to an efficient oxidative C-C bond formation of benzil derivatives to the corresponding 9,10-phenanthrenequinones. A highly complementary method to previous approaches was developed. The required derivatives are accessible in a modular fashion and in excellent yields. By this approach the orchid-derived natural product cypripediquinone A was synthesized for the first time.