Synthesis of a tetracyclic lactam system of Nuevamine by four-component reaction and free radical cyclization

A series of aza-analogs of nuevamine were prepared from readily available aldehyde, amine, and isonitrile compounds and maleic anhydride by combining a novel four-component reaction and free radical cyclization. The operational simplicity of this novel heterocycle synthesis process will be valuable for the synthesis of fused ring systems.