An expedient synthesis of poly-substituted 1-arylisoquinolines from δ-ketonitriles via indium-mediated Barbier reaction protocol

We developed an efficient synthetic strategy of poly-substituted 1-arylisoquinolines via an indium-mediated Barbier type allylation from δ-ketonitriles. Initial attack of allylindium species occurred at the nitrile group selectively to form the enamine intermediate, which reacted with the ketone group intramolecularly to furnish the isoquinolines.