10.1016/S0040-4039(01)91108-6
The study investigates the anodic intramolecular arylation of enaminones to produce isoquinolines and benzazepines. Enaminones, which are prepared by condensation of various benzylamines, phenethylamines, and anilines with 1,3-diketones, serve as the key substrates. The anodic oxidation potentials of these enaminones are measured and listed in Table 1. The preparative electrolyses of enaminones 1, 3 - 5 lead to the formation of isoquinolines and benzazepines in fair yields, as shown in Table 2. The anode potentials for these reactions range from +0.8 to +1.6 V vs. s.c.e. The study also notes that enaminone k does not cyclize under the given conditions but forms the iminoquinone ketal 11 instead. The anode reaction described provides a convenient one-step preparation of isoquinolines and benzazepines, which are suitable intermediates for the synthesis of various alkaloids such as lycorane, Cephalotaxus, and erythrina alkaloids.