Medium-Ring Nitrogen Heterocycles through Migratory Ring Expansion of Metalated Ureas

Simple benzo-fused nitrogen heterocycles (indolines, tetrahydroquinolines, and their homologues) undergo migratory ring expansion through deprotonation of their benzylic urea derivatives with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) in the presence of N,N′-dimethylpropylideneurea (DMPU). The products of the reactions are benzodiazepines, benzodiazocines, and their homologues, with ring sizes of 8–12. The reactions tolerate a range of substituent patterns and types, and may exhibit enantiospecificity or diastereoselectivity. Considerable complexity is rapidly generated in an efficient synthesis of these otherwise difficult-to-obtain medium-ring nitrogen heterocycles.