Oxidative Cyanation of Tertiary Amines for Facile Synthesis of Tetrahydroisoquinolines with Quaternary Centers

A facile and efficient synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinolines with quaternary centers has been successfully realized by orchestrating a sequential process consisted of N-bromosuccinimide oxidation and cyanation of tertiary amines. This compatible combination protocol enables one-pot synthesis of a-cyano tetrahydroisoquinolines containing a quaternary center with up to 99% yield. (C) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.