A Novel Synthetic Route for 1,2'-Binaphthalene Derivative, Analogues of Isodiospyrin

Abstract

A new synthetic route for l,2’-binaphthalenes was developed. 4,5,8’-Trimethoxy-2,3’-dimeth- yl-[l,2’]-binaphthalenyl-l’-ol (20) was synthesized by aryl-aryl coupling of the prefixed aryloxy- methyl-aryl intermediate followed by reductive cleavage of the ethereal bridge. Compound 20 was further oxidized with Fremy’s salt to give 4,5,8’-trimethoxy-2,3’-dimethyl-[l,2’]-binaphthalenyl- l’,4’-dione (21). Preliminary studies showed that compound 21 was active against Leishmania mexicana (LV78) promastigotes, but was inactive against the cell growth of a variety of human tu-mor cell lines.