A method for the preparation of 7-aryl derivatives of N-methyl-5-azain
doline involving Suzuki cross-coupling is described. Certain biaryls p
repared in this manner exhibit atropisomerism. in particular, azaindol
ine 11 is shown to be configurationally stable at room temperature and
to catalyse efficiently the esterification of 1-methylcyclohexanol wi
th Ac2O. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.