Intramolecular Functionalization of Benzylic Methylene Adjacent to the Ring Nitrogen Atom in N-Aryltetrahydroisoquinoline Derivatives

Functionalization at the benzylic methylene group that is adjacent to the ring nitrogen atom in a series of N-aryltetrahydroisoquinoline compounds has been realized through intramolecular cross-dehydrogenative coupling reactions. The presented transformation provided straightforward access to the formation of C(sp(3))-Y (Y = C, N or O) bond via I(III) reagent.