A general catalytic route to isoindolinones and tetrahydroisoquinolines: application in the synthesis of (±)-crispine A.

An unprecedented highly efficient Lewis acid catalyzed one-pot cascade has been demonstrated as a general catalytic system for the synthesis of diversely substituted isoindolinones and tetrahydroisoquinolines. The cascade effects one C-C and two C-N bond-forming events in one pot. Several interesting transformations of the products into valuable synthetic intermediates are featured with the successful total synthesis of (±)-crispine A.