Novel Extensions of the tert-Amino Effect: Formation of Phenanthridines and Diarene-Fused Azocines from ortho-ortho′-Functionalized Biaryls

Phenanthridines and azocines fused to two benzene rings or one benzene and one pyridazinone ring, which are otherwise difficult to access, were prepared via two new extensions of the tert- ' amino effect. The synthetic pathway includes three steps:i) Suzuki ] reaction of an ortho-functionalized phenylboronic acid with ortho- ] disubstituted benzenes or pyridazinones; ii) the Knoevenagel condensation reaction of the biaryl aldehydes formed with active methylene compounds to obtain vinyl derivatives or, through their cyclization, phenanthridines via a tert-amino effect; and iii) thermal isomerization of vinyl or phenanthridinium compounds to fused azocines via another type of tert-amino effect.