An organocatalytic cascade approach toward polysubstituted quinolines and chiral 1,4-dihydroquinolines-unanticipated effect of N-protecting groups.

A matter of protection: The outcome of a divergent organocatalytic aza-Michael/aldol cascade process toward quinolines and 1,4-dihydroquinolines depends on the choice of the N-protecting group (see scheme; TEA = triethylamine, TMS = trimethylsilyl). Use of an electron-donating sulfonyl group results in an unanticipated aza-Michael/aldol/aromatization cascade to give polysubstituted quinolines (right). In contrast, chiral 1,4-dihydroquinolines are obtained with an electron-withdrawing sulfonyl group (left).