A convenient synthesis of 4-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-4-ols by a novel intramolecular Barbier reaction and by an insertion reaction: Reaction scope and limitations
4-Substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-4-ols were prepared from N-(2-iodobenzyl)phenacylamines by an intramolecular Barbier reaction with butyllithium and by an insertion reaction with zerovalent nickel. The scope and limitations of these reactions were discussed.