Convenient synthesis of 2,3,9,10-tetraoxygenated protoberberine alkaloids and their 13-methyl alkaloids.

New and convenient synthesis of 2,3,9,10-tetraoxygenated protoberberine alkaloids and their 13-methyl alkaloids through the same intermediates was developed. Acylation of the brominated benzylphenethylamine (13) with alpha-chloro-alpha-(methylthio)acetyl chloride, followed by cyclization with stannic chloride, furnished the key intermediates 4-methylthio-3-phenethylisoquinolin-3-ones (14), which were methylated to provide their methyl derivatives (17). Both isoquinolin-3-ones (14, 17) were easily transformed into protoberberine alkaloids (16) and their 13-methyl alkaloids (21) in good yield.