Arene imine derivatives of nitrogen heterocycles: 1a,9b-dihydrobenz[h]-azirino[f]quinoline, 1a,9b-dihydrobenz[f]azirino[h]quinoline and 1a,9b-dihydroazirino[f][1,10]phenanthroline

The syntheses of the K-imine derivatives of benzo[h]quinoline ( 1 ), benzo[f]quinoline ( 2 ) and 1,10-phenanthroline ( 3 ) are described. The parent nitrogen heterocycles were oxidized with sodium hypochlorite to the corresponding K-oxides, 4, 6 and 8 , which in turn were reacted with sodium azide. The resulting azido alcohols were then cyclized with triethyl phosphite to the title compounds 5, 7 and 9 . The oxirane ring cleavage in benzo[h]quinoline 5,6-oxide ( 4 ) and in benzo[f]quinoline 5,6-oxide ( 6 ) by sodium azide proceeded by the predicted regioselectivity: 4 gave trans-5-azido-5,6-dihydro-6-benzo[h]quinolinol ( 11 ) and trans-6-azido-5,6-dihydro-5-benzo[h]quinolinol ( 10 ) as the major and minor products respectively, and 6 yielded solely trans-6-azido-5,6-dihydro-5-benzo[f]quinolinol ( 12 ). The latter compound proved by X-ray analysis to crystallize as a hydrogen bonded dimer.