Room temperature ionic liquids promoted three-component coupling reactions:: a facile synthesis of cis-isoquinolonic acids

Room temperature ionic liquids are found to catalyze efficiently the three component-coupling reactions of aldehydes, amines and homophthalic anhydride under mild and convenient conditions to afford the corresponding cis-isoquinolonic acids in excellent yields with high cis-selectivity. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.