8‐Hydroxyphenathridines have been synthesized efficiently from N‐propargyl‐ortho‐furylanilines employing microwave‐mediated one‐pot intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction on furans (IMDAF) reaction and subsequent aromatization. The 8‐hydroxyphenathridines were also subjected to further functionalization; O‐alkylation and conversion to the corresponding triflate followed by Suzuki coupling. N‐Propargyl‐7‐furylindole and the corresponding indoline also underwent smooth IMDAF cyclization to give, after rearomatization, 7H‐pyrrolo[3,2,1‐de]phenanthridin‐9‐ol or the 4,5‐dihydro analog. These cyclization products could be further functionalized, i.e. O‐ or N‐alkylation and oxidation at C‐6. The oxidation could lead to 6‐oxo derivatives or pyrrolo[3,2,1‐de]phenanthridin‐6‐ium salts depending on the reaction conditions and structure of the substrate. The 9‐oxy‐pyrrolophenanthridines synthesized are structurally closely related to bioactive lycorine alkaloids.

N‐Substituted tetrahydroimidazo[1,2‐f]phenanthridines (TIPs) and dihydroimidazo[1,2‐f]phenanthridines (DIPs) have a variety of interesting properties, but structural variations of these compounds have, until now, included nitrogen substituents. Herein, TIPs and DIPs that have electron‐withdrawing groups on the phenanthridine moiety have been synthesized. A microwave‐mediated one‐pot intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction of furan (IMDAF) and subsequent aromatization were employed as the key steps. The electron‐deficient dihydrophenanthridines constructed by an IMDAF were oxidized in situ by 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ), and the salts generated were treated with benzylamine to give N‐benzyl TIP compounds. These TIPs were remarkably stable towards air‐mediated oxidation relative to those TIPs that do not contain electron‐withdrawing substituents and were isolated in high yields. Electron‐deficient TIPs were easily oxidized to give the corresponding DIPs by treatment with N‐bromosuccinimide.

Phenanthridines functionalized in the C-ring have been synthesized by IMDAF (intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction on furans) cyclization of ortho-furyl(alkenylamino)arenes under both microwave and conventional heating conditions. The outcomes of the reactions are highly dependent on the substitution patterns both on the dienophile and on the arene components. 5,6-Dihydrophenanthridines, which can easily be oxidized to fully aromatic phenanthridines, are formed