The electroreductive intramolecular coupling of phthalimides with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane and subsequent desilylation of resulting silyl ketene acetals with TBAF gave five- and six-membered trans-cyclized products stereospecifically. The silyl ketene acetals were readily rearranged to benzoindole and tetrahydrobenzoquinoline by standing or treatment with a Lewis acid under open-air conditions. The electroreductive intermolecular coupling of N-methylphthalimide with methyl acrylate also proceeded.
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