An efficient method for the preparation of antitumoral α-keto-imines benzyldihydroisoquinolines by selective benzylic oxidation with C/Pd in acetonitrile

A series of potent antitumor α-keto-imine BDHIQ derivatives were synthesized and assayed in vitro against L1210 leukemia cell line. A new and easy method for the direct formation of α-keto-imine from imine BDHIQ's was performed with 10% C/Pd in acetonitrile.