Determining the scope of the lanthanide mediated, sequential hydroamination/C–C cyclization reaction: formation of tricyclic and tetracyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles

The scope of the lanthanide mediated, sequential hydroamination/C–C cyclization reaction was determined for the formation of tricyclic and tetracyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles. An array of ring sizes was explored to determine the diastereoselectivity. The electronic characteristics of the aromatic ring was also varied to determine how it affected the cascade reaction. It was found that the benzo[a]quinolizine and the pyrido[2,1,a]isoindolizine ring systems formed with the highest diastereoselectivity (>20:1), regardless of the electronic characteristics of the aromatic ring. Additionally, a tetracyclic indole nitrogen heterocycle was formed with a 2.3:1 diastereomeric ratio. A novel procedure for substrate preparation is also presented.