function, cyclize under the influence of potassium tert-butoxide to the corresponding indole derivatives 5a-c,e-k and 9a-d, respectively, under these conditions the chloroacetamides 4d,n and 11e are converted into the tetrahydroquinolines 6a,b and 12, respectively. Treatment of chloroacetamide 4m with KOt-Bu gave, in addition to starting material, indole 5m, tetrahydroquinoline 6c and 2(1H)-quinolinone