FeCl3-catalyzed cascade cyclization in one pot: synthesis of ring-fused tetrahydroquinoline derivatives from arylamines and N-substituted lactams.

Multiple cross-dehydrogenative-coupling reactions catalyzed by FeCl3 in one pot were developed. Arylamines and N-substituted lactams were reacted, and ring-fused tetrahydroquinoline derivatives were formed by two C-C bonds and one C-N bond formation as well as one C-N bond cleavage. The lactams were also used as solvent.