Synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolines by 1,5-electrocyclisation of non-stabilised azomethine ylides

A new route to the pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline ring system has been developed via the 1,5-dipolar electrocyclisation reactions of azomethine ylides derived from easily available 3-formylquinoline derivatives. The intermediacy of azomethine ylides was shown by the trapping of the proposed dipoles with N-phenylmaleimide.