A convenient protocol for the synthesis of 5,6-dihydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines with various electron-withdrawing substituents at C-2 atom is described. This approach is based on the two-component domino reaction of 1-aroyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines with α,β-unsaturated ketones, nitroalkenes and acrylonitrile. Depending on the selected substrates, the reaction was performed in TFE under reflux or under microwave irradiation. Only for the two examples, a transition metal catalyst was used.
Keywords: Domino reaction; Nitriles; Nitroalkenes; Pyrroloisoquinolines; Unsaturated ketones.
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