gem-Dibromomethylarenes as Aldehyde Surrogates in the Pictet-Spengler Synthesis of Tetrahydroisoquinolines and Isoindoloisoquinolones

A new variant of the Pictet-Spengler reaction has been developed using gem-dibromomethylarenes as aldehyde surrogates to afford a variety of tetrahydroisoquinoline and isoindoloisoquinolone ring systems in good yields. These systems comprise important motifs in naturally occurring bioactive substances.