The polarity reversible nature of azomethine imines as the crucial transformation enables the tandem Michael addition/imine isomerization/[3+2] cycloaddition to proceed under mild, transition-metal-free conditions to form cyclohepta[b]pyrroles in a single operation starting from readily available acyclic precursors with a broad substrate scope.
![Graphical abstract: Tandem Michael addition/imine isomerization/intramolecular [3+2] cycloaddition for the regiospecific synthesis of cyclohepta[b]pyrroles](http://hg.y866.cn/compound/lib/scimg/usr/1/C4CC04665J.jpg)