Pictet-Gams conditions

In 1968, the aforementioned reaction was repeated and found to produce a rearranged product (11). This was the first report of aryl migration with the Pictet-Gams conditions. The expected product was l-methyl-3-phenyl isoquinoline, but only 1-methyl-4-isoquinoline (11) was observed. Interestingly, the authors did not suggest a mechanism for the formation of the isolated product. 

Unexpected oxazoline formation was observed during a study to prepare nonsedating anxiolytic 1-styrylisoquinolines 27a-h from 2-(trifluoromethyl)aryl-ethylamines 25a-h under Pictet-Gams conditions (POCI3 in refluxing toluene). This deviation from the normal reaction pathway was hypothesized to result from the electron-withdrawing effect of trifluoromethyl group that inhibited the formation of a benzylic cation required for isoquinoline formation (Scheme 8.12). 

To understand the unpredictable nature of the Pictet-Gams reaction, Hartwig and Whaley conducted the first mechanistic studies in 1949. Their work focused on substituent effects when directly attached to the ethylamine side chain. They also investigated a variety of dehydration agents in order to identify optimal reaction conditions. It was determined that formation of the isoquinoline structure was virtually impossible when alkyl or phenyl substituents were placed in the 4-position of the ethylamine side chain. 

Hydroxy-substituted A -(2-arylethy)amides 51 lead to isoquinolines 48 under Bischler-Napieralski conditions. In this case, dehydrogenation is not required Pictet-Gams synthesis), because H2O elimination occurs at the dihydroisoquinoline step. The starting materials 51 are available e.g. from aryl-4,5-dihydrooxazoles (e.g. 57). 

Oxazoles.—Formation. ci)-Diazoacetophenone reacts with benzonitrile in the presence of trifluoromethanesulphonic acid to give 2,5-diphenyloxazole (514). Bi-, ter-, and quater-oxazoles have been synthesized from a-metallated isocyanides thus lithiobenzyl isocyanide (PhCHLiNC) and dimethyl oxazole-3,4-dicarboxylate afford compound (515). Stable methylene-oxazolines (516 R = Me or Ph) are obtained by heating the iminesHN=C(Ph)OCHRC=CH. The fluorinated oxazoline (518) results from the action of benzonitrile on the oxiran (517), and also from the reaction of bis(trifluoromethyl)carbene with the benzoylimine (CF3)2C=NCOPh/ Treatment of 2-acylamino-l-aryl-alkan-l-ols (519) under the conditions of the Pictet-Gams reaction, i.e. with phosphorus pentoxide in boiling toluene or xylene, results in cis- and trans-2-oxazolines (520), rather than isoquinolines, as claimed previously. The spiro-oxazolines (521 R = Me or Ph) are formed when the lithiated di-isocyanide CN—CH2CH2CHLi—NC is treated with acetone or benzophenone, respec-tively. ... 

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