Abstract: The present invention relates to indolo[3,2-j]phenanthridine compounds and their use in the treatment of cancer and other diseases of humans and animals including parasitic diseases such as those of Apicomplexan origin, compositions containing said compounds and methods of treatment using them.

Abstract: Dibenzo[b,d]pyrans are prepared by heating a dihydroxybenzoic acid derivative in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst and an inert non-polar solvent in which the dihydroxybenzoic acid is soluble but in which the Lewis acid catalyst is insoluble or very slightly soluble. A typical embodiment involves the preparation of intermediates useful in the synthesis of dronabinol and related dibenzo[b,d]pyrans.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula I are disclosed as useful intermediates in the preparation of prostanoids: ##STR1## wherein A represents O or H, OR.sup.z ;R.sup.z represents hydrogen or a protecting group;R.sup.x represents hydrogen or a protecting group; andR.sup.y represents halogen, a substituted thio group, di-substituted amino group, or a group of the formula R.sup.2, and R.sup.2 represents a straight- or branched-chain alkyl alkenyl or alkynyl group which may optionally be substituted by one or more carboxyl, carboxylic acid ester, or free or protected hydroxyl, thiol, aldehyde or keto groups;with the provisos that R.sup.x is not hydrogen when A is O and R.sup.y is R.sup.2 ; and that when A is H, OR.sup.z R.sup.y and R.sup.2 and R.sup.x and R.sup.z are not both hydrogen.Processes for the preparation of these compounds and of 2-substituted 4-hydroxy-cyclopent-2-en-1-one derivatives are also disclosed.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula I are disclosed as useful intermediates in the preparation of prostanoids: ##STR1## wherein A represents O or H, OR.sub.z ;R.sup.z represents hydrogen or a protecting group;R.sup.x represents hydrogen or a protecting group; andR.sup.y represents halogen, a substituted thio group, di-substituted amino group, or a group of the formula R.sup.2, and R.sup.2 represents a straight-or branched-chain alkyl alkenyl or alkynyl group which may optionally be substituted by one or more carboxyl, carboxylic acid ester, or free or protected hydroxyl, thiol, aldehyde or keto groups;with the provisos that R.sup.x is not hydrogen when A is O and R.sup.y is R.sup.2 ; and that when A is H, OR.sup.z R.sup.y is R.sup.2 and R.sup.x and R.sup.z are not both hydrogen.Processes for the preparation of these compounds and of 2-substituted 4-hydroxy-cyclopent-2-en-1-one derivatives are also disclosed.