Chapter 27 - Isoquinoline and its derivatives

Abstract

This chapter covers the chemistry on isoquinoline for the period of 10 years (1985 to 1995). Excellent reviews are published for isoquinoline chemistry, the structure, reactivity, and synthesis of some isoquinolines and hydroisoquinolines that have been reviewed under pyridines and their benzo derivatives in a more concise form in comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry. The progress of the enantioselective synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids is also reviewed. In the isoquinoline synthesis a large number of synthetic approaches are classified according to the mode of bond closure to form the isoquinoline ring. These are described with the help of schematic illustration. The different types of synthesis are explained briefly for the isoquinoline compounds. The n-vinylcarbodiimides is used to construct pyridine an isoquinoline ring systems via heterodyne addition. The [4+2] cycloadditions of alicyclic amine with divinylcarbodiimides results in the formation of isoquinoline derivative. The synthesis of 5, 8, 9, 10-tetrahydroisoquinol-3-one and 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10-hexahydroisoquinoline compounds are also outlined in the chapter.