With the optimized conditions in hand (
Table 1, entry 4), we set out to investigate the generality of the quinine-promoted N-O cleavage strategy to construct bridged-fused benzo[
d]-azepines by examining a variety of yne-allenone esters and nitrones. As depicted in
Scheme 2, the scope with respect to yne-allenone esters
1 was first evaluated by adopting nitrone
2a as a representative substrate. To our delight, yne-allenone esters
1 bearing both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups linked by the arylalkynyl moiety did not hamper the reaction process. Various substituents, such as methyl (
1b), ethyl (
1c), methoxy (
1d), phenyl (
1e), fluoro (
1f), chloro (
1 g-
1i), and bromo (
1j), at different positions (
othro, meta, or
para) of the phenyl ring were examined in this catalytic system, and all these cases worked well, leading to the highly stereoselective formation of unprecedented bridged 1, 4-methanobenzo[
d]azepines
3b–3j in acceptable yields with (
Z)-selectivity of its exocyclic double C-C bond. It is found that this transformation seems sensitive to the steric bulkiness of the R
1 substituents because the sterically crowded
o-chlorophenyl analogue
1g worked sluggishly to access
3g in a moderate yield. However, cyclopropyl-substituted
1k resulted in severe decomposition, leading to a trace amount of product
3k, which failed to be isolated. This outcome demonstrates that aryl group-stabilized yne-allenone esters prove to be good precursors. Moreover, a chloro-functionality (
1l) was introduced into the C4 position of the internal arene ring of substrate
1 and then employed to react with
2a, enabling a similar annulation process to give product
3l with a moderate yield and high stereoselectivity. Next, a careful survey of the possible variation in both substituents of nitrones was investigated (
Scheme 2). Nitrones carrying alkyl (methyl
2b, 2c and
2n, ethyl
2d and
t-butyl
2e), halo (fluoro
2f, chloro
2g, 2h and bromo
2i) and trifluoromethyl
2j at the
ortho-, meta- or
para-position of the phenyl ring proximal to the imine unit were all accommodated, stereoselectively delivering the corresponding products
3m-3u, 3z-3bb and
3dd-3ee with comparable efficiency. Indeed, essentially a single (
Z)-stereoisomer was detected in these cases. Of these groups, a strong electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl group also exhibited good compatibility, as evident by the corresponding product
3u being obtained, albeit with a relatively lower yield (48%). Notably, the sterically encumbered 1- and 2-naphthyl counterparts (
2k and
2l) were adopted to prove the validity of this double annulation, furnishing the corresponding bridged products
3v-3w and
3cc in acceptable yields. However, methyl-substituted nitrone
2m failed to undergo this process. Subsequently, representative methyl (
2o) and chloro (
2p) groups located at the
para-position of the arene ring relative to the nitrogen heteroatom of nitrones were tested, and both substrates were converted into products
3ff and
3gg in satisfactory yields and excellent stereoselectivity, indicating that different electronic properties of substrates have a negligible effect on the reactivity.