A Novel Synthesis of 1-Aryl-9-alkyl-2, 3, 3a, 4, 9, 9a-hexahydro-1H-pyrrolo[2, 3-b] quinoxalines by lithium aluminium hydride reduction of N-phenyl-1-benzimidazolyl-succinimides

The N-substituted 1-benzimidazolyl-succinimides 6a – v (Scheme 1, Table 1 and 2) have been prepared by the reaction of benzimidazole and its derivatives with maleimides. Reduction of the N-cyclohexyl and N-cyclo-octyl substituted 1-benzimidazolyl-succinimides 6i – k with lithium aluminium hydride gives the normally expected substituted (N-alkyl-3-pyrrolidinyl)benzimidazoles 14i – k . However by LiAlH₄-reduction of the N-phenyl substituted 1-benzimidazolylsuccinimides 6a – h mainly the 1-aryl-9-alkyl-2, 3, 3a, 4, 9, 9a-hexahydro-1H-pyrrolo2, 3-b]quinoxalines 7a – h are obtained. The mechanism of this unusual reduction has been elucidated.