Iron-Catalyzed Synthesis of Pyrrolo[2,1- a ]isoquinolines via 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition/Elimination/Aromatization Cascade and Modifications.

We have developed an iron-catalyzed synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1- a ]isoquinoline derivatives with tetrahydroisoquinolines, arylacyl bromides, and nitroolefins. Highly functionalized pyrrolo[2,1- a ]isoquinolines can be obtained in moderate to good yields through a three-component N-alkylation/oxidative 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition/elimination/aromatization cascade. The obtained products in this study can be easily modified by easy chemical transformations to structurally complex molecules bearing privileged framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]