| Abstract: | A New and Simple Method for the Synthesis of Spirocyclic la-Quinolines The reaction of anilines with (+)-(R)-pulegone in toluene at temperatures between 125 and 150° with 4-toluenesulfonic acid or I2 as catalysts leads to diastereoisomeric mixtures of spiro[cyclohexane-1,2′(1′H)-quinoline] derivatives (see 1–4 , Scheme 1; Table). The diastereoisomers are separated by column chromatography, and the structure of the single isomers is determined by NMR-spectroscopic methods. A reaction mechanism proceeding via several 6π-electrocyclic rearrangements and H-shifts is proposed for the formation of 1H-quinolines 1–4 (Scheme 2). This mechanism is in accordance with the results of the reaction of 2-isopropenylaniline with 3-methylcyclohexanone which leads to a stereoisomeric mixture of 3,4′-dimethylspiro[cyclohexane-1,2′(1H)-quinolines] (Scheme 3). |
