2-(N-Allylaminomethyl)cinnamaldehydes as substrates for syntheses of aza-polycycles via intramolecular cycloaddition reactions

Syntheses of a variety of aza-polycycles employing 2-(N-allylaminomethyl)cinnamaldehydes derived from Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts of acrylates via intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, or Aza-Diels–Alder or domino Knoevenagel/hetero Diels–Alder cycloaddition reactions are described. Whereas the Aza-Diels–Alder afforded a mixture of cis- and trans-isomers of substituted 1,2,3,4,4a,5,10,10a-octahydrobenzo[b][1,6]naphthyridines, the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and domino Knoevenagel/hetero Diels–Alder were diastereoselective to produce exclusively cis-derivatives of 1,2,3,4,4a,6,7,8,9,9a-decahydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b]pyrrolizine-8a-carboxylates and 3,4,4a,5,7,8,9,10b-octahydro-1H-chromeno[3,4-c]pyridin-10(2H)-ones, respectively.