Reissert compounds reduction

Isoquinoline also forms Reissert compounds when treated with benzoyl chloride and alkyl cyanide (28), especially under phase-transfer conditions (29). The W-phenylsulfonyl Reissert has been converted to 1-cyanoisoquinoline with sodium borohydride under mild conditions (154). When the AJ-benzoyl-l-alkyl derivative is used, reductive fission occurs and the 1-alkyLisoquinoline is obtained. 

The Reissert method15—conversion of an isoquinoline to a 2-benzoyl-1,2-dihydroisoquinaldonitrile (Reissert compound), alkylation, and hydrolysis—has enjoyed wide success in the synthesis of benzyliso-quinoline and related alkaloids.16,17 In particular, aporphines are prepared conveniently by converting isoquinolines to I-(o-nitrobcnzyl)-isoquinolines via a Reissert sequence, followed by A7-alkylation, reduction, and Pschorr cyclization.17... 

Several syntheses of secoquettamines have been performed. Seco compounds 234 and 235 were semisynthesized from quettamine (236) by Hofmann and Emde degradations, respectively (179). Chattopadhyay and Shamma (184) conducted a total synthesis of these bases with the intermediacy of quettamine (236) (Scheme 36). In this approach Reissert compound 237 served as substrate. On reaction with 4-benzyloxybenzaldehyde 237 supplied the addition product 238, which after N-methylation and sodium borohydride reduction afforded amino carbinol 239. Compound 239 was cyclized to... 

Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of Reissert compounds results in an aldehyde, a formal reduction product of the acyl halide utilized in the Reissert compound formation (11). The mechanism of the reaction according to McEwen and Cobb (3), is shown in Scheme 2. 

Reticuline (38), one of the most important intermediates in the biosynthesis of opium alkaloids, has been synthesized in racemic form (Scheme 7) (78). 6-Methoxy-7-benzyloxyisoquinoline (39), prepared from O-benzylisovanillin via a modified Pomeranz-Fritsch isoquinoline synthesis, was treated with benzoyl chloride and potassium cyanide to obtain Reissert compound 40. Alkylation of the anion generated from 40 with 3-benzyloxy-4-methoxybenzyl chloride gave the corresponding 1-substituted Reissert compound 41 which was hydrolyzed in alkaline medium to 1-benzylisoquinoline derivative 42. Quatemarization of 42 with methyl iodide followed by sodium borohydride reduction and debenzylation led to ( )-reticuline (38) in about 25% overall yield from 39. 

This section deals with transformations of heterocyclic rings and includes not only addition of carbenes and nitrenes, but also rearrangements frequently following these additions. Also included are topics such as the synthesis of Reissert compounds as well as miscellaneous oxidations and reductions. 

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