FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.6.0_18"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_18-b07)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 16.0-b13, mixed mode, sharing)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :
I have also tested this issue on:
SunOS io 5.10 Generic_118833-33 sun4v sparc SUNW,Sun-Fire-T200

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
The JDK compiler crashes when trying to compile a class that imports a class, which has been already compiled (*) and uses the @TransactionAttribute annotation from the javax.ejb jar.

(*) Of course this 2nd class has been compiled with the java.ejb jar available on the classpath.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
1> mkdir a
2> mkdir b
3> mkdir j
4> copy "%MAVEN_REPOSITORY%\javax\ejb\ejb\3.0\ejb-3.0.jar" j
5> echo package a; import javax.ejb.TransactionAttribute; import javax.ejb.TransactionAttributeType; public class C { @TransactionAttribute(Transactio
nAttributeType.NOT_SUPPORTED)void m(){ } } > a\C.java
6> echo import a.C; class T { void m() { } } > b\T.java
7> javac -cp j\ejb-3.0.jar a\C.java
8> javac b\T.java


ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
.\a\C.class: warning: Cannot find annotation method 'value()' in type 'javax.ejb.TransactionAttribute': class file for javax.ejb.TransactionAttribute not found
An exception has occurred in the compiler (1.6.0_18). Please file a bug at the Java Developer Connection (http://java.sun.com/webapps/bugreport) after checking the Bug Parade for duplicates. Include your program and the following diagnostic in your report. Thank you.
com.sun.tools.javac.code.Symbol$CompletionFailure: class file for javax.ejb.TransactionAttributeType not found

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
File a\C.java:
package a;
import javax.ejb.TransactionAttribute;
import javax.ejb.TransactionAttributeType;
public class C {
@TransactionAttribute(TransactionAttributeType.NOT_SUPPORTED)
void m(){ }
}

File b\T.java:
import a.C;
class T {
void m() {
}
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Add the javax.ejb jar to the compiler classpath.