A theoretical study of the site selectivity of activating methylthio and methoxy groups in the synthesis of isoquinolines

Abstract

The site selectivity of activating methylthio and methoxy groups in the synthesis of isoquinolines has been studied theoretically in terms of the static index approach. The dependence of the relative amounts of ortho- and para-isomer produced upon the nature of the electrophilic group has been explained in terms of the degree of charge localization in the electrophile, together with the calculated electronic structure of the activated benzene ring.