Photochemical reduction aromatic rings

Extensive investigations have been made into further methods for the reduction of aromatic rings based on the use of dissolving metals in other solvents, especially the lower molecular weight amines (the Benkeser reduction), electrochemical methods (cathodic reductions), photochemical methods and the reaction of radical anions with silylating reagents rather than proton sources. The aim of much of this work has been to produce the normal Birch products more conveniently or cheaply, but very often the outcome has been quite distinct. The alternative method may then provide access to products which are not so easily obtained by the standard metal-liquid ammonia methodology. 

A photochemical ring construction similar to that described in Scheme 5 was used in the synthesis of the aromatic lycorine alkaloid ungeremine (51) (Scheme 6). Photocyclization of the somewhat inaccessible imine (48) gave the phenanthridine derivative (49) in 21 % yield which upon metal hydride reduction and cyclization with phosphorus tribromide afforded the quaternary salt (50) which was shown to be identical with the methyl ether of ungeremine (51) obtained as shown. 

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