Chemistry Letters, Vol.33, No.3, 236-237, 2004
New synthesis of isoquinoline derivatives by reactions of 2-(2-methoxyethenyl)benzonitriles with organolithiums and lithium dialkylamides
A simple and efficient synthesis of l-alkyl(or aryl)isoquino-line and isoquinolin-l-amine derivatives based on intramolecular cyclization of 2-(2-methoxyethenyl)benzonitriles initiated by the addition of alkyl(or aryl)lithiums and lithium dialkyl-amides to the nitrile carbons, respectively, is described.