Baylis-Hillman Reaction: In Situ Generated Isoquinolinium Species as Excellent Electrophiles for Coupling with Alkyl Acrylates and Acrylonitrile

Isoquinolinium species, generated in situ from 2-alkynylbenzaldehydes, arylamines, and silver trifluoromethanesulfonate, were successfully employed as excellent electrophiles for Baylis-Hillman coupling with alkyl acrylates (or acrylonitrile) under the influence of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane to provide 1,2,3-trisubstituted dihydroisoquinoline derivatives in high yields.