A one-pot domino reaction for the synthesis of 3-arylindolizines from pyridines, benzyl halides, and dihalide-substituted electron-deficient alkenes
3-Arylindolizines were prepared by one-pot domino reactions from benzyl halides with pyridine (or isoquinoline) and cyclic or acyclic dihalide-substituted electron-deficient alkenes in the presence of potassium carbonate via in situ generated N-ylide intermediate. Both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups are tolerated in the aryl ring of benzyl halides. The yields range from moderate to high. Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart - New York.