Abstract Reductive cyclizations of N-[2-(2-pyridyl) ethyl] imides were accomplished by employing a palladium on carbon catalyst in ethanolic acetic acid as the hydrogenation medium. Reduction of the corresponding N-[2-(2-quinolyl) ethyl] imides ceased at the 1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroquinolyl stage. Controlled reduction of the tetrahydroquinolyl imides with sodium borohydride gave amido alcohols which afforded bridgehead nitrogen heterocycles upon ...