Ytterbium Triflate-Catalyzed Intramolecular Arylative Ring Opening of Arylaminomethyl-Substituted Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes: Access to Tetrahydroquinolines.

The treatment of arylaminomethyl-substituted donor-acceptor cyclopropanes with a catalytic amount of Yb(OTf) 3 provides expedient access to tetrahydroquinoline derivatives. The transformation proceeds through an intramolecular S N 2-type attack of the aminomethyl-containing aryl ring on the cyclopropane ring, leading to the formation of the products as single diastereomers.