One-Pot Synthesis of 3-(1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl)-isoquinolin-1(2H)-ones by Sequential DEAD-Promoted Oxidative Ugi/Wittig Reaction Starting from Phosphonium Salt Precursors

A new one-pot Synthesis of 3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl)- isoquinolin-1(2H)-ones by DEAD-promoted oxidative Ugi/Wittig reaction was developed. The sequential reactions of (2-carboxybenzyl)triphenylphosphonium salts, isocyanides and N-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines produced 3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl)- isoquinolin-1(2H)-ones in moderate to good overall yields in the presence of DEAD and Et3N.