Basic alumina-promoted Beckmann rearrangement of the oxime tosylates o
f the cyclohexanone derivative 5, in turn obtained from the quinide 3
derived by acid-catalyzed reaction of D-(-)-quinic acid with benzaldeh
yde, gave rise to the formation of a mixture of chiral 4,5,6-trisubsti
tuted hexahydroazepin-2-one regioisomers, which could be separated and
further elaborated to N-tosyl-3,3-disubsituted hexahydroazepines, sui
table precursors for balanol and its congeners.