Synthesis of 1,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrido[3,2‐b]azepine

The synthesis of 7,8‐dihydro‐5(6H)‐quinolinone ( 3 ) from commercially available 3‐amino‐2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one ( 1 ) and 3‐(dimethylamino)acrolein ( 4 ) in 23% yield avoids the preparation of propynal ( 2 ). Conversion of 5‐(4‐methylphenylsulfonyl)‐6,7,8,9‐tetrahydro‐5H‐pyrido3,2‐b]azepine ( 12 ) to 6‐(4‐methylphenylsulfonyl)‐1,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyrazolo3,4‐d]pyrido3,2‐b]azepine ( 24 ) is described. Removal of the N‐(4‐methylphenylsulfonyl) group with 40% sulfuric acid in acetic acid gave the tricyclic azepine 26. Application of a similar series of reactions to 5‐(4‐nitrobenzoyl)‐6,7,8,9‐tetrahydro‐5H‐pyrido3,2‐b]‐azepine ( 13 ) afforded 6‐(4‐nitrobenzoyl)‐1,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyrazolo3,4‐d]pyrido3,2‐b]azepine ( 25 ).