A novel synthesis of isoquinolines containing an electron withdrawing substituent

Article abstract of DOI:10.3987/com-98-8362

3,4-Dihydroisoquinolines (10, 13) and isoquinolines (11), having various electron withdrawing substituent were synthesized in two steps from N- benzenesulfonyl- or N, N-dimethylsulfamoyl-β-phenethylamines (2 and 5). A novel cyclization method using ethyl chloro(methylthio)acetate (1) in the presence of SnCl₄ as Lewis acid, followed by acid or base treatment provides the title compounds in good yield.