Indolo[3,3a,4-gh]chinoline und 10a, 6a-Iminopropano-indolo-[3,3a,4-gh]chinoline. Stereospezifische Synthesen und Umlagerungen. Teil II. 9. Mitteilung über synthetische Indolverbindungen

Alkaline hydrolysis of 1-benzyl-4, 4-dicyanoethyl-5-oxo-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-benzo-cd]indole under controlled conditions leads to 4-benzyl-4,6,7,8-tetrahydro-10a, 6a-iminopropanoindolo3,3a,4-gh]quinoline-9(10H),12-dione ( 2a ), the first representative of such a ring system. Alkylation of this di-lactam affords the N-monoalkyl ( 2b ), the N, N'-dialkyl ( 3 ), and the N, O-dialkyl ( 4 ) derivatives according to the conditions employed. Treatment of compounds such as 2 with sodium in liquid ammonia results in the opening of one of the lactam rings by a stereoelectronically controlled reductive cleavage of the benzylamine bond; subsequent protonation proceeds stereospecifically to give trans-octahydroindolo3,3a, 4-gh]quinolines (viz. 5 ). The NMR. spectra and the mechanism of the reductive ring opening are discussed.