Synthesis of Fluorinated Pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines through Decarboxylative/Dehydrofluorinative [3 + 2] Cycloaddition Aromatization of Isoquinolinium N-Ylides with Difluoroenoxysilanes

A decarboxylative/dehydrofluorinative formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition aromatization of isoquinolinium N-ylides with difluoroenoxysilanes has been developed. This methodology provides a facile and straightforward synthetic pathway to afford highly functionalized fluorinated pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines in good to excellent yields under mild conditions. Moreover, gram-scale and synthetic derivatization experiments for the late-stage functionalization of drug molecules have also been demonstrated.