Reagent-free synthesis of 2,3,4-polysubstituted tetrahydroquinolines: application to the formal synthesis of (±)-martinellic acid and martinelline

The simple and one-pot method for the synthesis of polysubstituted tetrahydroquinolines from readily available anilines and aldehydes under reagent-free conditions has been developed. The scope of the transformation has been demonstrated. This method has been successfully applied to the rapid formal synthesis of (±)-martinellic acid and martinelline.