Yb(OTf)3-catalyzed cyclization of an N-silylenamine with 2-methylene-1,3-cyclohexanedione to afford a 7,8-dihydroquinolin-5(6H)-one derivative and its application to the one-pot conversion to a 2,3,5-trisubstituted quinoline derivative

A catalytic amount of ytterbium triflate (Yb(OTf)3) promotes the cyclization of an N-silylenamine with in situ generated 2-methylene-1,3-cyclohexanedione and 2-methylenecyclohexanone to produce the corresponding 2,3-disubstituted 7,8-dihydroquinolin-5-one and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolin-5-one in moderate to good yields. A one-pot conversion of 7,8-dihydroquinolin-5-one to the quinoline derivative also proceeded in good yield.