Abstract Thermal isomerization of aminomethyl-or oxygen-bridged biphenyl systems possessing dicyanovinyl and sec-amino groups in ortho-and ortho′-positions was investigated. Both systems underwent cyclization via tert-amino effect. Thus, 2-(2-{[2-(sec- amino) benzyl]-N-methylamino} benzylidene) malononitriles gave tetrahydroquinolines, whereas a 2-[2-(sec-amino) phenoxy] benzylidenemalononitrile isomerized to ...