Regiospecific preparation of 10-allyl-1-ketoquinolizidine and an unexpected disproportionation during its Wolff–Kischner reduction

Regiospecific formation of 10-allyl-1-ketoquinolizidine (7) is achieved in high yield by a [2.3] sigmatropic rearrangement of N-allyl-1-ketoquinolizidinium bromide (6). Wolff–Kischner reduction of 7 affords 10-allylquinolizidine (8) contaminated by the 10-propyl and 10-ethynyl analogs in amounts which depend on the reaction conditions. The carbon-13 spectrum of 8 indicates a trans-fused ring system with an axial substituent at C-10.