A facile one-pot synthesis of N-acyl-1-cyano-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline via a photoredox and Reissert-type reaction from 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines

Abstract

Herein we report a protocol for the direct α-cyanation/N-acylation of THIQs via a one-pot photoredox and Reissert-type reaction using air as the oxidant and acyl cyanide as the acyl and cyano source at ambient temperature. A set of various N-acyl-1-cyano THIQs were obtained in moderate to good yields. A plausible mechanism is suggested based on preliminary mechanistic studies.