A One-Pot Synthesis of Substituted Pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines via an Oxidation/Annulation Sequence of 2-(3,4-Dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)malononitriles

A highly effective oxidation/annulation reaction between 2-isocyanoacetates and 2-(3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)malononitriles has been successfully developed to give substituted pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline derivatives with moderate to good yields in a one-pot manner.