Microwave-assisted direct biaryl coupling: first application to the synthesis of aporphines

We have investigated the use of microwaves in a direct biaryl coupling reaction for the synthesis of analogs of the aporphine alkaloid nantenine. Our study shows that the aporphine core may be rapidly accessed from benzyl-tetrahydroisoquinoline substrates with this method. This is the first report of a microwave-assisted direct biaryl coupling reaction in the synthesis of aporphine molecules.