A novel and chemoselective synthesis of substituted 3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1(2H)-ones from o-oxiranylmethylbenzonitrile intermediates and TBAB/NaCN

A novel synthesis of substituted 3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1(2H)-ones is described. o-Oxiranylmethylbenzonitriles, prepared from isovanillin via five synthetic steps, were treated with NaCN/tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (TBAB) to yield 3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1(2H)-ones in good yields. This one pot reaction demonstrates the novel and chemoselective nature of ring-opening of epoxide by cyanide to generate an iminoisochroman ring via cyclization, again ring-opening by cyanide to generate a Michael acceptor and a donor, and ring re-cyclization through an intramolecular conjugate addition. The detailed mechanism is also rationally proposed.