N-phenyl-substituted pyrrolidines, piperidines and azabicyclics by a tandem reduction-double reductive amination reaction

N-Phenyl-substituted pyrrolidines and piperidines have been synthesized by catalytic reduction of nitrobenzene in the presence of 4- and 5-oxoaldehydes, respectively. The process involves reduction of the aromatic nitro group to give the N-phenylhydroxylamine or aniline followed by reductive amination with the two carbonyl functional groups. Monocyclic systems are generally formed in high yield and are easily purified. The method has also been extended to the synthesis of fused N-phenylazabicyclics from 2-(3-oxopropyl)cycloalkanones. A high degree of diastereoselectivity for the trans-fused product is observed in substrates having an ester group a to the cycloalkanone carbonyl. Bicyclic precursors lacking this ester group give mixtures of cis and trans products. Finally, contrary to previous reports, we have demonstrated that aniline can be substituted for nitrobenzene in these reactions.