An environmentally benign, transition metal-free, superbase-mediated intramolecular annulation of o-alkynylaldehydes with primary amines forms highly functionalized amino-substituted cyclopentaquinolinones and cyclopentapyridinones via C–N, C–C, and C
O bond formation. Contrary to the traditional approaches of ring closures, a different mode of annulation is disclosed. The protocol involves the in situ generations of imine intermediate followed by potassium hydroxide-promoted intramolecular cyclization and subsequent dimethyl sulfoxide induced dehydrogenation leads to the formation of N-heterocycles. X-ray crystallographic studies support the assigned structures of the amino-fused N-heterocycles.
