Competing Domino Knoevenagel-Cyclization Sequences with N-Arylcinnamylamines

Domino Knoevenagel-cyclization reactions of N-arylcinnamylamines were carried out with active methylene reagents, which took place with five competing cyclization mechanisms: intramolecular hetero Diels–Alder reaction, stepwise polar [2 + 2] cycloaddition, styryl or aza-Diels–Alder reactions followed by rearomatization, and [1,5]-hydride shift-6-endo cyclization. In the stepwise aza-Diels–Alder reaction, the N-vinylpyridinium moiety acted as an azadiene, producing a condensed heterocycle with tetrahydroquinolizinium and tetrahydroquiniline subunits. Antiproliferative activity with low micromolar IC50 values was identified for some of the novel scaffolds.