Microwave‐Assisted Radical Insertion/Cyclization of Vinyl Isocyanides for the Synthesis of Multi‐Substituted Isoquinolines

A convenient microwave-assisted method for the synthesis of multi-substituted isoquinolines from the radical insertion/cyclization reaction of vinyl isocyanides with a C(sp3)-H bond adjacent to a heteroatom has been described. The methodology presented here achieves wide substrate scope and good to excellent yields. A radical mechanism is proposed, which is supported by kinetic isotope effect (KIE) studies, radical trapping studies and Hammett plot analysis.