Three-Component Cycloaddition Reaction of Aryne, Acrylate, and Imine Derivatives: Divergent Synthesis of Hexahydropyrrolo[1,2- a ]quinolines and 1,4-Dihydroquinolines

A novel synthetic strategy toward hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]quinolines and 1,4-dihydroquinolines has been demonstrated, involving aryne-enabled three-component reactions with acrylate and imine derivatives. This transition-metal-free three-component cycloaddition reaction is scalable and operates with good functional group compatibility. The proposed reaction pathway is supported by a deuterium-labeling experiment.