1,7-Electrocyclisation of non-stabilised α,β∶γ,δ-unsaturated azomethine ylides

The generation of α,β∶γ,δ-unsaturated azomethine ylides 8 is described, starting from N-substituted α-amino acids 7 and aldehydes 6, 12. These azomethine ylides undergo a 1,7-electrocyclisation, followed by a [1,5]-hydrogen shift, to give the dihydrobenzazepines 10a–f and 13.