Enantioselective synthesis of 1-aryltetrahydroisoquinolines.

1-Aryltetrahydroisoquinolines (1-arylTHIQs) are important structural motifs in many alkaloids and biologically active compounds. Ligand 2a promotes the enantioselective addition of arylzinc reagents to 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline N-oxide to yield (S)-1-arylTHIQs in 97-99% ee. Pinacol arylboronic esters are the optimal precursors for the arylzinc reagents. This method is applied to the enantioselective synthesis of Solifenacin.