Abstract
A three-component cascade reaction involving 2-alkenyl aniline, aldehydes, and ethyl cyanoacetate in the presence of DBU to synthesize highly substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines is reported. The reaction proceeded through the Knoevenagel condensation of ethyl cyanoacetate with aldehydes followed by the aza-Michael-Michael addition with 2-alkenyl anilines to prepare the tetrahydroquinoline scaffolds.