Isoquinoline N-Oxide Synthesis under Pd-Catalysed C-H Activation/Annulation Processes

An oxime directed C–H activation–annulation reaction for the selective synthesis of a range of isoquinoline N-oxides has been developed. Under palladium-catalyzed acid-assisted conditions, the reaction undergoes concerted metallation deprotonation followed by carbopalladation and transmetallation to give poly­substituted isoquinoline N-oxides in moderate to good yields.