Selective Reduction of ortho-Acylated β-Enaminones of Homoveratryamine and Their Cyclization to 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinolines with β-Enaminone Moiety

Abstract

Enaminones are very stable compounds and can be prepared from cheap and easily available starting materials. Therefore they are excellent starting materials in organic synthesis. The selective reduction of ortho-acylated β-enaminones under mild conditions, keeping the enaminone moiety intact, is reported. The appropriated conditions for cyclization of newly obtained hydroxienamides were found. Novel 1-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines with potential anticonvulsic activity were synthesized.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Cyclization
• β-enaminones
• reduction
• tetrahydroisoquinolines

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We acknowledge financial support from the National Fund for Scientific Research DO-02-195 and the Fund for Scientific Research of Plovdiv University.