A Facile Approach to Optically Active Hydroquinoline‐2‐carboxylates by a One‐Pot Asymmetric Michael/Transamination/Cyclization Process

Abstract

An efficient one-pot synthesis of optically active hydroquinoline-2-carboxylates from 1,3-cyclohexanediones, β,γ-unsaturated α-keto ester, and benzylamine in the presence of a chiral base catalyst and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) with good diastereoselectivity and high enantioselectivity is described. The reaction proceeds by a sequential asymmetric Michael/transamination/cyclization process.