Thallium(III) Nitrate Mediated Ring Contraction of 2‐Aryl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐4‐quinolones: Stereoselective Synthesis of trans Methyl 2‐Aryl‐2,3‐dihydroindol‐3‐carboxylates

Abstract

The ring contraction of N‐acetyl‐2‐aryl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐4‐quinolones 1a–d with thallium(III) nitrate in trimethyl orthoformate afforded stereoselectively trans methyl N‐acetyl‐2‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydroindol‐3‐carboxylates 5a–d by oxidative rearrangement of aryl ring A.

Keywords:

• Dihydroindoles
• oxidative rearrangement
• ring contraction
• tetrahydro‐4‐quinolones
• thallium(III) nitrate

Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to the International Foundation of Science, Sweden and STEC, Govt. of Kerala (India) for financial support.