Reactions of isoquinolinium ylides: amine-catalysed cycloaddition of aldehydes and ketones
Abstract
Isoquinolinium diethoxycarbonylmethylide reacts with aldehydes and ketones in the presence of primary and secondary amines to yield 1- and 2-alkylbenzo[g]-indolizines, thought to result from cycloaddition to the intermediate enamines; some ketones also yield 1-alkyl-2,3-diethoxycarbonylbenzo[g]indolizines, resulting from 1,2 ester shifts of the initial adducts.