Double reduction of cyclic aromatic sulfonamides: a novel method for the synthesis of 2- and 3-aryl-substituted cyclic amines.

The facile double reduction of bicyclic aromatic sulfonamides was used to synthesize a variety of 2- and 3-aryl-substituted pyrrolidines and 2-phenylpiperidine. The method features a combined nitrogen protection and a traceless tether for the transposition of the aromatic moiety from nitrogen to carbon.