Highly stereoselective 7-endo-trig/ring contraction cascade to construct pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoline derivatives.

With the cooperation of Cram's phenonium ion, a novel cascade reaction was illustrated to construct pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinolines as a sole diastereoisomer in good to excellent yields. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that the gamma-lactam ring and electron-rich arene are important driving forces for ring contraction.