Highly selective synthesis of functionalized polyhydroisoquinoline derivatives via a three-component domino reaction

Two series of novel functionalized polyhydroisoquinoline derivatives have been synthesized via the three-component domino reaction of glutaraldehyde and malononitrile with a series of beta-ketoamides under microwave irradiation conditions in the presence of a catalytic amount of Et3N (10 mol%). This reaction represents the first reported process for the facile conversion of a beta-ketoamide to a hydroiso-quinoline via a C-N bond cleavage reaction without the need for a multistep reaction process.