Allylic azides as potential building blocks for the synthesis of nitrogenated compounds

The synthetic potential of multifunctional allylic azides and imines in attempted intramolecular cyclizations to nitrogen-containing heterocycles was investigated. Tandem Staudinger/aza-Wittig reaction of (E)-3-aryl-2-(azidomethyl)propenoates with triphenylphosphine and aldehydes yielded N-allylic imines in good yield. The (E)-stereochemistry of C=C and C=N bonds was assigned based on NOESY experiments. AlCl3 mediated formation of 3-carbomethoxyquinoline from methyl (E)-2-(azidomethyl)-3-phenylpropenoate is also described.