B. In fact, the time needed for the reaction of 5a,b,d,e to the corresponding 6,6a,7,12-tetrahydro-5H-
isoquino[2,3-a]quinazolin-5-ones 9a-d is decreased in the case of 5a,b (content of form B less or absent than in
5c) but increased in the case of 5d,e (form B content greater than in 5c).
EXPERIMENTAL
1
IR spectra were recorded on a Pye Unicam SP3-300 instrument (KBr tablets). H NMR spectra were
obtained on a Varian Mercury 400 (400 MHz) instrument using DMSO-d6 and with TMS as internal standard.
UV spectra were taken on a Specord M400 instrument. The melting points of the compounds synthesized were
determined on a Boetius type heating block and are not corrected. Monitoring of the reaction course and the
purity of the compounds obtained was carried out by TLC on Silufol UV-254 plates.
2,3-Dimethoxy-7,12-dihydro-5H-isoquino[2,3-a]quinazolin-5-one Hydrobromide (1a). A solution of
o-BMPA (2.1 g, 10 mmol) and methyl 2-amino-4,5-dimethoxybenzoate 2a (2.11 g, 10 mmol) in 2-propanol
(15 ml) was heated for 1 h. After cooling the precipitate was filtered off and washed with 2-propanol. The solid
material was a mixture of methyl 2-{[2-(cyanomethyl)benzyl]amino}-4,5-dimethoxybenzoate (3a) and 2-[4,5-
dimethoxy-2-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl]-1,4-dihydro-3(2H)-isoquinoleniminium bromide (4a) in the ratio 1 : 2.
The mixture of compounds 3a and 4a was dissolved with heating in DMF and was refluxed for 3 min. After
cooling the precipitated solid was filtered off and washed with DMF and alcohol.
2,3-R,R1-7,12-dihydro-5H-isoquino[2,3-a]quinazolin-5-one Hydrobromides (1b-g). A. The
isoquinoquinazoline hydrobromides 1b-f were prepared according to the method in [1] by heating a mixture of
equimolar amounts of o-BMPA and the anthranilic acids 2b-f in 2-propanol. The methyl 5-oxo-7,12-dihydro-
5H-isoquino[2,3-a]quinazoline-2-carboxylate hydrobromide (1g) was prepared using dimethyl 2-amino-
terephthalate (2g).
B. A mixture of o-BMPA (2.1 g, 10 mmol) and the anthranilic acid 2b-f (10 mmol) was heated on an oil
bath at 130-150ºC for 4 h. After cooling, the melt was triturated in acetone (5 ml). The precipitate was filtered
off and washed with acetone to give the isoquinoquinazoline hydrobromides 1b-f.
2,3-R,R1-7,12-dihydro-5H-isoquino[2,3-a]quinazolin-5-ones (5a,b,d-g). Et3N (1.5 ml) was added to a
suspension of the salts 1a,b,d-g in 2-propanol (10 ml) and refluxed for 10 min. Solvent and excess Et3N were
evaporated and water (50 ml) was added to the residue. The precipitate was filtered off and thoroughly washed
with water and alcohol to give the isoquinoquinazolines 5a,b,d-g.
7-{[4-(Dimethylamino)phenyl]methylene}-2,3-R,R1-7,12-dihydro-5H-isoquino[2,3-a]quinazolin-5-one
Hydrobromides (7a-c). A mixture of the isoquinoquinazoline hydrobromide 1a,e,g (2.57 mmol) and p-dimethyl-
aminobenzaldehyde (0.38 g, 2.57 mmol) in acetic anhydride (10 ml) was refluxed for 30 min (for 1a), 10 min (for
1e), or 3 min (for 1g). After cooling the precipitated solid was filtered off and washed with acetone. UV spectrum
(MeOH), λmax, nm (ε×10-3): compound 7a 204 (276.93), 232 (249.02), 265 (152.41), 328 (74.34), 415 (159.34);
compound 7b 205 (247.41), 242 (157.96), 328 (66.61), 423 (85.64); compound 7c 250 (155.52), 320 (55.73),
423 (102.38).
7-Acetyl-2,3-R,R1-6,12-dihydro-5H-isoquino[2,3-a]quinazolin-5-ones 8a,b.
A
mixture of the
isoquinoquinazoline 5a,d (0.1 mmol) and anhydrous sodium acetate (0.1 g, 0.12 mmol) in acetic anhydride
(10 ml) was heated for 3 h (5a) or for 1.5 h (5d). The product was cooled and left to stand overnight. The
precipitate was filtered off and washed with acetone.
2,3-R,R1-6,6a,7,12-Tetrahydro-5H-isoquino[2,3-a]quinazolines 9a-d. NaBH4 (0.76 g, 20 mmol) was
added in small portions to a suspension of the isoquinoquinazoline 1a,b,d,f (10 mmol) in methanol (50 ml). At
the end of the vigorous reaction during which the starting salt dissolved the mixture was refluxed for 15 min.
Solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure and the residue was treated with NaOH solution (10%, 20 ml).
The solid material was filtered off and washed with water.
468