The domino cycloaddition/N-acyliminium ion cyclization cascade

Abstract

Various applications of the domino cycloaddition/N-acyliminium ion cyclization cascade are reported. The key step in the process involves the generation of a reactive N-acyliminium ion by fragmentation of an amino substituted [4 + 2]-cycloadduct. The successful synthesis of a number of alkaloids by this sequence of reactions reveals the usefulness and importance of this unique domino cascade.