Synthesis and reactivity of hexahydropyrroloquinolines

Formal [4+2] cycloaddition of cyclic enamides with imines derived from aromatic amines gave the 4-arylhexahydropyrroloquinoline skeleton in one step as mixtures of diastereoisomers. Aromatic imines derived from formaldehyde and methylglyoxalate also participated in this chemistry, with the latter favouring formation of the endo-cycloadduct. The cycloadducts derived from methylglyoxalate were unstable and fragmented to give highly substituted quinolines under both neutral and basic conditions. Imines derived from 3-cyanoacrolein also underwent cycloaddition and gave an advanced potential precursor to martinellic acid, albeit with poor diastereoselectivity.