NHC-catalyzed cascade synthesis of 1-substituted 4-aryl-tetrahydroquinoline-2,5-diones

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed organocascade reactions via redox processes were found to be a simple and flexible procedure for the synthesis of a series of suitably functionalized 1-substituted 4-aryl-tetrahydroquinoline-2,5-diones. A wide range of potential biologically active quinoline derivatives for biomedical screening were obtained.