Total
synthesis and structural determination of XR774 has been
accomplished. The benzo[j]fluoranthene skeleton has
been constructed by regioselective coupling between tetraline 3 and tetralone 4 successively followed by the
sequential transformation including the Birch reduction to prepare
allylic alcohol, simultaneous bromination of vinylic and aromatic
moieties, and the nickel-mediated intramolecular coupling reaction.
The optical resolution of racemic 17 led to the first
total synthesis of (−)-XR774.