A general approach to 3-aminoisoquinoline, its N-mono and N,N-disubstituted derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4020(95)00799-E

Condensation of 2-cyanomethyl benzaldehydes 1 with 2 (ammonia, primary or secondary amines) carried out in the presence of a catalytic amount of trifluoroacetic acid, afforded 3-aminoisoquinolines 3. In the case of primary amines azomethines 4 were formed at first; they dissociated and subsequently yielded 3 in a rather slow process.