Complementary asymmetric routes to fused tricyclic (R)-2,3,4,4a,5,6-hexahydro-1H-pyrazino[1,2-a]quinolines and (R)-1,2,3,4,5,5a,6,7-octahydro-[1,4]diazepino[1,2-a]quinolines

Two distinct enantioselective approaches to (R)-2,3,4,4a,5,6-hexahydro-1H-pyrazino[1,2-a]quinolines and (R)-1,2,3,4,5,5a,6,7-octahydro-[1,4]diazepino[1,2-a]quinolines, low MW tricyclic organic scaffolds with a high degree of molecular complexity, are described. The key transformation in route 1 is the lateral lithiation of an N-Boc-o-toluidine and dianion trap with (S)-tert-butyldimethyl(oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)silane. An intramolecular SN2 cyclization then forms the optically pure tetrahydroquinoline core. Route 2 involves the coupling of (R)-2-(4-benzyl-1-(Boc)piperazin-2-yl)acetaldehyde or (R)-2-(4-benzyl-1-(Boc)-1,4-diazepan-2-yl)acetaldehyde with an aryllithium and a subsequent intramolecular SNAr reaction to form the tricycle. Both synthetic routes were valuable for preparing and identifying ligands targeting GPCRs expressed in the central nervous system (CNS).