(Z)-Ethyl 2-phenyl-1-(2-vinylphenyl)vinylcarbamates. Part 1: Synthesis and preliminary studies on their divergent transformation into benzo[c]phenanthridines and 2-phenyl-1,4-naphthoquinones

Treatment of N-carbethoxy-1-benzylideneisoquinolines with LDA gives N-ethoxycarbonyl-1-amino-1-(2-vinylphenyl)-2-phenylethylenes, which can easily be transformed into N-carbethoxy-1-amino-2-phenylnaphthalenes. Bischler–Napieralski reaction of these latter compounds affords the corresponding benzo[c]phenanthridines, while their hydrolysis and subsequent oxidation constitutes a novel route to 2-phenyl-1,4-naphthoquinones.