Versatile assembly of the 2-carboxybenzo[b]azepine ring system

A suitable 2-carboxybenzo[b]azepine derivative was designed as a potential novel antagonist of the strychnine-insensitive glycine binding site of the NMDA receptor. This compound was synthesized via an N-aryl allylglycine, a useful intermediate efficiently prepared from the starting aniline derivative, followed by a short and unusual elaboration of the allyl double bond.