Synthesis of 1-(para-methoxyphenyl)tetrazolyl-Substituted 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinolines and Their Transformations Involving Activated Alkynes.

1-(p-Methoxyphenyl)tetrazolyl-substituted 6,7-dimethoxy(6,7-methylenedioxy)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines formed tetrazolyl-substituted azocines in high yields by using activated alkynes. Unsubstituted at 6,7,8-aromatic fragment 1-tetrazolylisoquinoline interacted in several pathways forming tetrazolyl-substituted azocines, 1-tetrazolyl-1-R-vinylisoquinolines and 3-azaspiro[5.5]undeca-1,7,9-triene.

1. Introduction

Multicomponent processes are an accessible tool for creating molecular diversity, have a high synthetic potential, and show high atom and step economy. There are many examples of isonitriles in multicomponent reactions for forming original biologically-active compounds [1,2]. They are widely used in green chemistry [3,4,5] and in the synthesis of tetrazoles [6,7,8,9,10,11]. Substituted or heterocyclic annulated tetrazoles have an extensive range of biological activity. They have exhibited anti-inflammatory [12], analgesic [12], and anticancer [13] activities. Substituted benzazocines and azocinoindoles can inhibit acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterases [14,15], and they are promising compounds for creating antineurodegenerative drugs. The combination of two pharmacophore fragments of azocine and tetrazole in one molecule can enhance previously identified, or create new activities.

2. Results

Recently, we reported examples of cotarnine chloride and 2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-β-carbolinium iodide that iminium salts, can be used in multicomponent Ugi reactions [16,17]. At the 1-position of the methyl, phenyl, or benzyl substituent in the iminium salts of isoquinolines, the Ugi azido reaction is not realized. Herein, we propose to determine whether substituents in the aromatic fragment of 1-tetrazolyl-substituted isoquinolines affect the direction of transformations involving activated alkynes. Specifically, we propose the synthesis of 1-(p-methoxyphenyltetrazolyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, and its 6,7-dimethoxy- and 6,7-(methylenedioxy)-8-methoxy derivatives 1a–c [16].

We prepared tetrazolyl-substituted isoquinolines, by reacting the corresponding iminium salt with p-methoxyphenyl isonitrile and sodium azide (Scheme 1).

Scheme 1

Synthesis of tetrazolyl-substituted isoquinolines 1a–c via the Ugi azido reaction.

The tetrazolyl-substituted isoquinolines 1a, 1b, with oxygene-containing substituents in the aromatic moiety, reacted with methyl propiolate, acetylacetylene, and DMAD (dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate) in trifluoroethanol at 20 °C for 1–12 days, affording tetrazolyl-substituted azocines 2a–f in nearly quantitative yields (Scheme 2).

Scheme 2

Synthesis of tetrazolyl-substituted benzazocines 2a–f.

Previously, we obtained 6-(1-benzyl and 1-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl) tetrazolyl-substituted azocines from 1-tetrazolyl-2-methyl-6,7-methylenedioxy-8-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline with activated alkynes, in yields of 64–75%, and with DMAD, in a yield of 94% [16].

Unsubstituted at the aromatic fragment, tetrahydroisoquinoline 1c reacted difficultly and ambiguously with activated alkynes. The reaction with DMAD occurred at 20 °C over the course of 2 days (Scheme 3). In contrast, the reaction with methyl propiolate and acetylacetylene required heating to the boiling point of the solvent (Scheme 4).

Scheme 3

Interaction of isoquinoline 1c with DMAD.

Scheme 4

Interaction of isoquinoline 1c with activated terminal alkynes.

Scheme 3 and Scheme 4 show transformations of isoquinoline 1c with activated alkynes. Tetrazolyl-substituted benzazocines 2g, 2h formed in the reactions of compound 1c with methyl propiolate and DMAD. We synthesized the Stevens rearrangement’s products 4a, 4b, using methyl propiolate and acetylacetylene, via ylides as intermediates. It was unusual to obtain spiro compound 3 from the interaction with DMAD. Previously, we reported that such spiro compounds form in the reaction of activated alkynes with tetrahydropyridines [c]-connected with a five-membered heterocycle, with one heteroatom condensed with a benzo- or hetaryl-containing fragment [18,19].

We assume that the conversion of tetrazolyl-substituted isoquinolines proceeds through zwitterion A, which is in equilibrium with the open form B (Scheme 5). An interaction of ions in the intermediate B leads to the formation of compounds 2a–h. The same products can be obtained as a result of nucleophilic attack of the cationic center in zwitterion A on position 1 of isoquinoline. In the reactions of methyl propiolate and acetylacetylene, the anionic center in ion A has a greater basicity than in the reaction of DMAD, and it can remove a proton from the C-1 position, forming ylide C, the rearrangement of which leads to the synthesis of vinyl-substituted tetrazolylisoquinolines 4a, 4b.

Scheme 5

Proposed mechanism for the formation of the isolated products 2–4.

The formation of the unusual transformation product with DMAD (spiro compound 3) is probably associated with a more efficient delocalization of the anionic center in intermediate B, which enables ipso-attack on the aromatic fragment.

We confirmed the structures of all synthesized compounds by spectral data. We characterized the 1H-NMR spectra of all tetrazolyl-substituted azocines by the presence of the weakfield singlets of H-6 protons at δ 6.30–6.01 ppm, and the spectra of azocines 2a, 2b, 2d, 2e, 2g by the presence of singlets at δ 7.45–7.26 ppm, due to the presence of enamine proton H-4. The 1H-NMR spectra of isoquinolines 4a, 4b exhibits two doublets, δ 7.83–7.73 ppm and δ 5.54–5.35 ppm, with J = 16.2 Hz, indicating transposition of protons at a double bond (See the Supplementary Materials for further details). We confirmed the structure of spiro-compound 3 by X-ray analysis (Figure 1).

Figure 1

X-ray crystal diffraction of compound 3.

The tetrahydropyridine ring of the spiro compound 3 assumes a slightly distorted “sofa” conformation, with the carbon atom C(16) extending from the plane formed by the remaining atoms of the ring by 0.658 Å. Carbonyl fragment C(19)–O(3) of the ester group is essentially coplanar with the basal plane of the tetrahydropyridine ring C(15)–C(18)=C(21)–N(5)–C(17) (the dihedral angle is equal to 6.40°), due to bond conjugation. The nitrogen atom N(5) has a trigonal planar configuration (the sum of the valence angles is 359.7°). The cyclohexadiene ring of the spiro compound 3 assumes a slightly distorted “sofa” conformation, with the carbon atom C(15) extending from the formed by the remaining atoms of the ring by 0.444 Å. The 4-methoxyphenyl substituent in molecule 3 is twisted with a tetrazole ring at an angle of 34.20°. The molecule of spiro compound 3 contains the asymmetric carbon atom C(15). The molecules of compound 3 in the crystal form centrosymmetric dimers, due to two intermolecular hydrogen bonds C(5)–H(5)···O(5)*.

To conclude, oxygen-containing substituents in the aromatic fragment at the tetrazolyl-substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines promote the formation of tetrazolylbenzazocines. Unsubstituted isoquinoline interacts in a more complex manner, and via several pathways.

3. Experimental Section

IR spectra were registered on a Fourier spectrometer Infralum FT-801 in KBr pellets (ISP SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia). 1H and 13C-NMR spectra were acquired on a JEOL JNM–ECA 600 spectrometer (JEOL Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) (with operating frequencies of 600 and 150 MHz, respectively) in CDCl3 and DMSO-d6 solution at 23 °C. Signal of the residual protons of the solvent (7.26 ppm for CHCl3) was used as the reference in 1H-NMR spectra, while solvents signals (77.2 ppm for CDCl3, 39.4 ppm for DMSO-d6) were used as the reference in 13C-NMR spectra. Mass spectra were recorded with LCMS-8040 Triple quadrupole liquid chromatograph mass-spectrometer from Shimadzu (Shimadzu Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). Elemental analysis was performed on a EuroVector EA-3000 elemental Analyzer (Eurovector, S.p.A., Milan, Italy). Melting points were determined by the open capillary method on a Stuart SMP10 apparatus (Bibby Sterilin Ltd., Stone, UK). X-ray diffraction data were obtained on an automatic three-circle Bruker APEX-II CCD diffractometer (Bruker AXS GmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany). Sorbfil PTX-AF-A-UV plates (Imid Ltd., Krasnodar, Russia) were used for thin-layer chromatography and visualization with the iodine vapor. Column chromatography was performed on silica gel 40–60 µm, 60 Å. DMAD, methyl propiolate, acetylacetylene (Acros Organics, Geel, Belgium) and trifluoroethanol (SIA “P&M-Invest” Ltd., Moscow, Russia) were used without further purification. All solvents were distilled before use.

3.1. Synthesis of 1-Tetrazolyl-Substituted Isoquinolines (General Method)

Sodium azide (0.72 g, 11 mmol) was added to a solution of cotarnine chloride (2.12 g, 8.3 mmol) or 6,7-dimethoxy-2-methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium iodide (2.77 g, 8.3 mmol) or 2-methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium iodide (2.27 g, 8.3 mmol) and p-methoxyphenyl isonitrile (1.49 g, 11 mmol) in methanol (25 mL) at 20 °C. Stirring was continued at room temperature, monitoring of the reaction progress was performed by TLC (EtOAc-hexane, 1:2). Cotarnine chloride and dimethoxy isoquinolinium iodide react for 1 day; unsubstituted aromatic fragment isoquinolinium iodide reacts for 2 days. The methanol was removed in vacuo, the residue was crystallized from a mixture of EtOAc-hexane (1:2) to afford 1-tetrazolyl-substituted isoquinolines 1a–c.

6,7-Dimethoxy-1-[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (1a), Yield 1.96 g (62%); beige solid; m.p. = 108–110 °С; Rf = 0.48 (EtOAc-hexane, 1:1); 1H-NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3): δ 6.95 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 6.75 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 6.42 (s, 1H, H-8), 6.15 (s, 1H, H-5), 5.05 (s, 1H, H-1), 3.79 (s, 6H, OCH3), 3.64 (s, 3H, OCH3), 2.94–2.91 (m, 1H, 3-CH2), 2.53–2.49 (m, 1H, 3-CH2), 2.46–2.43 (m, 2H, 4-CH2), 2.25 (s, 3H, N–CH3); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3): δ 160.3, 156.6, 148.2, 147.7, 127.3, 127.1 (3C), 123.9, 113.5 (2C), 110.9, 108.9, 60.1, 55.9, 55.8, 55.5, 51.1, 43.7, 28.1; LCMS m/z: 382 [M + H]+. Elemental analysis: calcd. for C20H23N5O3 C 62.98, H 6.08, N 18.36%, found C 62.72, H 5.85, N 18.47%.

4-Methoxy-5-[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]-6-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinoline (1b), Yield 3.09 g (94%); beige solid; m.p. = 143–145 °С; Rf = 0.41 (EtOAc-hexane, 2:1); 1H-NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.55–7.52 (m, 2H, H-Ar), 7.06–7.03 (m, 2H, H-Ar), 6.34 (s, 1H, H-9), 5.85 (d, J = 1.4 Hz, 1H, 2-CH2), 5.81 (d, J = 1.4 Hz, 1H, 2-CH2), 5.04 (s, 1H, H-5), 3.89 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.62 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.24–3.19 (m, 1H, 7-CH2), 2.90–2.85 (m, 1H, 8-CH2), 2.68–2.65 (m, 1H, 7-CH2), 2.63–2.59 (m, 1H, 8-CH2), 2.22 (s, 3H, N–CH3); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3): δ 160.9, 155.9, 149.0, 139.9, 134.1, 129.3, 127.4, 127.1 (2C), 117.2, 114.7 (2C), 103.2, 100.9, 58.9, 55.8, 52.7, 46.3, 42.1, 25.6; LCMS m/z: 396 [M + H]+. Elemental analysis: calcd. for C20H21N5O4 C 60.75, H 5.35, N 17.71%, found C 60.51, H 5.01, N 17.60%.

1-[1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (1c), Yield 1.84 g (69%); yellow solid; m.p. = 90–92 °С; Rf = 0.59 (EtOAc–hexane, 1:2); 1H-NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.09 (t, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H, H-Ar), 7.03 (t, J = 7.4 Hz, 1H, H-Ar), 6.96 (d, J = 7.4 Hz, 1H, H-Ar), 6.93–6.91 (m, 2H, H-Ar), 6.77–6.75 (m, 2H, H-Ar), 6.72 (d, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H, H-Ar), 5.15 (s, 1H, H-1), 3.81 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.00–2.95 (m, 1H, 3-CH2), 2.59–2.53 (m, 3H, 3,4-CH2), 2.29 (s, 3H, N–CH3); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3): δ 160.4, 156.6, 134.8, 132.4, 128.6, 127.3 (2C), 127.1, 126.6 (2C), 126.2, 113.5 (2C), 60.3, 55.5, 51.1, 43.7, 28.5; LCMS m/z: 322 [M + H]+. Elemental analysis: calcd. for C18H19N5O C 67.27, H 5.96, N 21.79%, found C 66.95, H 6.20, N 21.91%.

3.2. The Interaction of Isoquinolines , with Activated Alkynes (General Method)

Alkynes (DMAD, methyl propiolate or acetylacetylene) (4 mmol) was added to a solution of isoquinolines 1a or 1b (2 mmol) in trifluoroethanol (10 mL). The reaction mixture was kept at 20 °C, isoquinolines 1a, 1b reacted with methyl propiolate for 1 day, with acetylacetylene for 5 h and 10 days, respectively, with DMAD for 5 and 12 days, respectively. The reaction progress was monitored by TLC (sorbphil, EtOAc-hexane, 1:2). The solvent was evaporated in vacuum and the residue was recrystallized from EtOAc-hexane mixture.

Methyl (4E)-8,9-dimethoxy-6-[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]-3-methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-3-benzazocin-5-carboxylate (2a), Yield 0.90 g (97%); white solid; m.p. = 152–154 °С; Rf = 0.41 (EtOAc-hexane, 2:1); IR (KBr) ν 1635 cm−1 (С=O); 1H-NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.43 (s, 1H, H-4), 7.08 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 6.85 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 6.57 (s, 1H, H-7), 6.32 (s, 1H, H-10), 6.00 (s, 1H, H-6), 3.98–3.93 (m, 1H, 2-CH2), 3.81 (s, 6H, OCH3), 3.66 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.54 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.06–2.96 (m, 3H, 1,2-CH2), 2.93 (s, 3H, N–CH3); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3): δ 169.4, 160.8, 159.6, 153.6, 147.5, 147.3, 128.7, 127.9, 127.7 (2C), 126.6, 115.3, 114.6, 114.1 (2C), 94.0, 55.8, 55.6, 55.5, 51.4, 51.2, 44.2, 40.8, 35.1; LCMS m/z: 466 [M + H]+. Elemental analysis: calcd. for C24H27N5O5 C 61.92, H 5.85, N 15.04%, found C 61.70, H 6.01, N 14.90%.

1-{(4E)-8,9-Dimethoxy-6-[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]-3-methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-3-benzazocine-5-yl}ethanone (2b), Yield 0.78 g (87%); beige solid; m.p. = 194–195 °С; Rf = 0.26 (EtOAc- hexane, 2:1); IR (KBr) ν 1620 cm−1 (С=O); 1H-NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.32 (s, 1H, H-4), 7.10 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 6.84 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 2H, H-Ar,), 6.53 (s, 1H, H-7), 6.40 (s, 1H, H-10), 6.25 (s, 1H, H-6), 4.24–4.19 (m, 1H, 2-CH2), 3.81 (s, 6H, OCH3), 3.63 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.10 (ddd, J = 15.5, 6.6, 2.7 Hz, 1H, 2-CH2), 3.01 (s, 3H, N–CH3), 2.98–2.93 (m, 2H, 1-CH2), 2.07 (s, 3H, COCH3); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3): δ 193.3; 160.7, 159.5, 155.8, 147.4, 147.3, 128.4, 128.0, 127.6 (2C), 126.6, 115.5, 114.5, 114.0 (2C), 108.5, 55.8, 55.54, 55.51, 51.2, 44.4, 38.0, 34.7, 24.7; LCMS m/z: 450 [M + H]+. Elemental analysis: calcd. for C24H27N5O4 C 64.13, H 6.05, N 15.58%, found C 63.92, H 6.25, N 15.41%.

Dimethyl (4E)-8,9-dimethoxy-6-[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]-3-methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-3-benzazocin-4,5-dicarboxylate (2c), Yield 0.97 g (93%); beige solid; m.p. = 108–110 °С; Rf = 0.47 (EtOAc-hexane, 1:1); IR (KBr) ν 1736, 1683 cm−1 (С=O); 1H-NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3): δ 6.98 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 6.81 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 6.48 (s, 1H, H-10), 6.14 (s, 1H, H-7), 5.88 (s, 1H, H-6), 4.65–4.62 (m, 1H, 2-CH2), 3.80 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.79 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.72 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.61 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.60 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.35 (ddd, J = 15.1, 8.7, 1.8 Hz, 1H, 1-CH2), 2.86 (ddd, J = 8.7, 11.4, 16.2 Hz, 1H, 2-CH2), 2.56–2.53 (m, 1H, 1-CH2), 2.52 (s, 3H, N–CH3); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3): δ 168.2, 166.2, 160.8, 157.8, 156.7, 147.9, 147.4, 129.6, 127.4 (2C), 126.4, 126.2, 115.8, 114.2 (2C), 113.8, 99.8, 55.9, 55.6, 55.5, 55.2, 52.5, 51.8, 43.2, 38.3, 32.8; LCMS m/z: 524 [M + H]+. Elemental analysis: calcd. for C26H29N5O7 C 59.65, H 5.58, N 13.38%, found C 59.83, H 5.71, N 13.45%.

Methyl (8E)-10-[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]-7,11-dimethyl-5,6,7,10-tetrahydro[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-i][3]benzazocine-9-carboxylate (2d), Yield 0.93 g (97%); white solid; m.p. = 167–169 °С; Rf = 0.35 (EtOAc-hexane, 2:1); IR (KBr) ν 1681 cm−1 (С=O); 1H-NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.42 (m, 1H, H-8), 7.16 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 6.90 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 6.85 (s, 1H, H-10), 6.30 (s, 1H, H-4), 5.88 (d, J = 1.5 Hz, 1H, 2-CH2), 5.83 (d, J = 1.5 Hz, 1H, 2-CH2), 4.03 (ddd, J = 15.3, 9.8, 4.8 Hz, 1H, 6-CH2), 3.84 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.83 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.55 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.08 (dt, J = 15.3, 5.3 Hz, 1H, 6-CH2), 2.92 (s, 3H, N–CH3), 2.90–2.89 (m, 1H, 5-CH2), 2.80 (dt, J = 16.3, 5.3 Hz, 1H, 5-CH2); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3): δ 167.0, 160.6, 160.0, 153.5, 147.8, 141.2, 135.6, 132.3, 127.1 (2C), 126.9, 121.6, 113.9 (2C), 105.3, 101.0, 99.3, 59.9, 55.6, 52.4, 51.1, 45.0, 34.9, 30.0; LCMS m/z: 480 [M + H]+. Elemental analysis: calcd. for C24H25N5O6 C 60.12, H 5.26, N 14.61%, found C 59.89, H 5.46, N 14.52%.

1-{(8E)-11-Methoxy-10-[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]-7-methyl-5,6,7,10-tetrahydro[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-i][3]benzazocin-9-yl}ethanone (2e), Yield 0.88 g (95%); white solid; m.p. = 225–227 °С; Rf = 0.42 (EtOAc-hexane, 1:1); IR (KBr) ν 1620 cm−1 (С=O); 1H-NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.27 (s, 1H, H-8); 7.18 (br.s, 1H, H-10), 7.15–7.12 (m, 2H, H-Ar), 6.87–6.85 (m, 2H, H-Ar), 6.28 (s, 1H, H-4), 5.87 (d, J = 1.4 Hz, 1H, 2-CH2), 5.81 (d, J = 1.4 Hz, 1H, 2-CH2), 4.15–4.10 (m, 1H, 6-CH2), 3.83 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.80 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.10 (ddd, J = 15.6, 6.4, 4.6 Hz, 1H, 6-CH2), 2.96 (s, H, N–CH3), 2.87 (ddd, J = 16.6, 10.2, 6.4 Hz, 1H, 5-CH2), 2.67 (dt, J = 16.6, 4.6 Hz, 1H, 5-CH2), 2.06 (s, 3H, CH3); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3): δ 192.7; 160.3, 159.7, 155.3, 147.6, 141.1, 135.4, 131.6, 126.7, 126.7 (2C), 121.4, 113.7 (2C), 107.7, 104.9, 100.7, 59.6, 55.4, 52.1, 44.7, 34.5, 27.9, 24.5; LCMS m/z: 464 [M + H]+. Elemental analysis: calcd. for C24H25N5O5 C 62.19, H 5.44, N 15.11%, found C 61.93, H 5.63, N 15.26%.

Dimethyl (8E)-11-methoxy-10-[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]-7-methyl-5,6,7,10-tetrahydro[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-i][3]benzazocin-8,9-dicarboxylate (2f), Yield 1.03 g (96%); white solid; m.p. = 212–214 °С; Rf = 0.47 (EtOAc-hexane, 1:1); IR (KBr) ν 1732, 1691 cm−1 (С=O); 1H-NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.13–7.12 (m, 2H, H-Ar), 6.86–6.84 (m, 2H, H-Ar), 6.72 (s, 1H, H-10), 6.22 (s, 1H, H-4), 5.86 (d, J = 1.4 Hz, 1H, 2-CH2), 5.78 (d, J = 1.4 Hz, 1H, 2-CH2), 4.35 (ddd, J = 15.2, 10.0, 6.0 Hz, 1H, 6-CH2), 3.81 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.75 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.72 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.58 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.30 (ddd, J = 15.2, 6.7, 4.0 Hz, 1H, 6-CH2), 2.87 (ddd, J = 16.7, 10.0, 6.7 Hz, 1H, 5-CH2), 2.53 (s, 3H, N–CH3), 2.45–2.41 (m, 1H, 5-CH2); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3): δ 167.5; 166.4, 160.6, 158.3, 155.6, 148.1, 141.1, 135.7, 132.6, 126.8 (2C), 126.5, 120.4, 114.0 (2C), 105.1, 101.1, 99.7, 60.1, 55.9, 55.6, 52.4, 51.7, 38.8, 32.62, 32.60; LCMS m/z: 538 [M + H]+. Elemental analysis: calcd. for C26H27N5O8 C 58.10, H 5.06, N 13.03%, found C 57.83, H 5.21, N 12.90%.

3.3. The Interaction of Isoquinoline with DMAD

DMAD (0.44 g, 3.1 mmol) was added to a solution of isoquinoline 1c (0.5 g, 1.56 mmol) in trifluoroethanol (5 mL). The mixture was kept at 20 °C for 2 days. The reaction progress was monitored by TLC (sorbfil, EtOAc-hexane, 1:3). The solvent was evaporated in vacuum, and the residue was chromatographed on a silica gel column. Azocine 2g and spiro compound 3 were eluted with EtOAc-hexane, 1:2, and recrystallized from EtOAc-hexane mixture.

Dimethyl 6-[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]-3-methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-3-benzazocin-4,5-dicarboxylate (2g), Yield 0.36 g (50%); white solid; m.p. = 125–127 °С; Rf = 0.70 (EtOAc-hexane, 1:2); IR (KBr) ν 1734, 1681 cm−1 (С=O); 1H-NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.10–7.08 (m, 1H, H-Ar); 7.02–6.97 (m, 4H, H-Ar), 6.81–6.80 (m, 3H, H-Ar), 6.03 (s, 1H, H-6), 4.60–4.53 (m, 1H, 2-CH2), 3.82 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.73 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.63 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.39 (dd, J = 13.8, 8.1 Hz, 1H, 2-CH2,), 2.99–2.93 (m, 1H, 1-CH2), 2.62 (dd, J = 15.9, 6.8 Hz, 1H, 1-CH2,), 2.49 (s, 3H, N–CH3); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, DMSO-d): δ 167.4, 165.6, 160.3, 157.6, 155.8, 137.2, 134.2, 132.3, 130.9, 127.5, 127.1 (2С), 127.0, 126.0, 114.3 (2С), 99.4, 55.6, 54.0, 52.4, 51.6, 42.6, 38.2, 32.6; LCMS m/z: 464 [M + H]+. Elemental analysis: calcd. for C24H25N5O5 C 62.19, H 5.44, N 15.11%, found C 61.93, H 5.69, N 15.28%.

Dimethyl (11E)-11-{[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]methylidene}-3-methyl-3-azaspiro[5.5]undeca-1,7,9-triene-1,2-dicarboxylate (3), Yield 0.12 g (17%); white solid; m.p. = 126–127 °С; Rf = 0.50 (EtOAc-hexane, 1:1); IR (KBr) ν 1736, 1680 cm−1 (С=O); 1H-NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.73 (d, J = 9.7 Hz, 1H, H-cyclohexadiene); 7.34 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 7.04 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 6.31 (dd, J = 9.7, 5.5 Hz, 1H, H-cyclohexadiene), 6.03–5.99 (m, 2H, H-cyclohexadiene), 5.91 (s, 1H, =CH-Ar), 3.88 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.83 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.54 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.22 (ddd, J = 13.1, 9.6, 3.9 Hz, 1H, 4-CH2), 2.97 (ddd, J = 13.1, 4.8, 4.6 Hz, 1H, 4-CH2), 2.75 (s, 3H, N–CH3), 1.87 (ddd, J = 13.6, 9.6, 3.9 Hz, 1H, 5-CH2,), 1.81–1.77 (m, 1H, 5-CH2); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3): δ 166.6, 165.6, 160.5, 156.4, 151.2, 150.7, 128.5, 142.0, 126.7, 126.2 (2С), 122.0, 119.4, 114.8 (2С), 105.3, 97.4, 55.6, 52.6, 50.9, 42.5 (2С), 39.5, 33.7, LCMS m/z: 464 [M + H]+. Elemental analysis: calcd. for C24H25N5O5 C 62.19, H 5.44, N 15.11%, found C 61.43, H 5.72, N 15.21%.

3.4. X-ray Structure Determination of Compound

The structures of product 3 were unambiguously established by X-ray diffraction study and are shown in Figure 1 along with the atomic numbering schemes. The tetrahydropyridine ring of the spiro compound 3 assumes a slightly distorted “sofa” conformation with the carbon atom C(16) extending from the plane formed by the remaining atoms of the ring by 0.658 Å. Carbonyl fragment C(19)–O(3) of the ester group is practically coplanar with the basal plane of the tetrahydropyridine ring C(15)–C(18)=C(21)–N(5)–C(17) (the dihedral angle is equal to 6.40°) due to the conjugation of bonds. The nitrogen atom N(5) has a trigonal planar configuration (the sum of the valence angles is equal to 359.7°). The cyclohexadiene ring of the spiro compound 3 assumes a slightly distorted “sofa” conformation with the carbon atom C(15) extending from the plane formed by the remaining atoms of the ring by 0.444 Å. The 4-methoxyphenyl substituent in molecule 3 is twisted with a tetrazole ring at an angle of 34.20°. The molecule of spiro compound 3 contains the asymmetric carbon atom C(15). The molecules of compound 3 in the crystal form centrosymmetric dimers due to two intermolecular hydrogen bonds C(5)–H(5)···O(5)*.

The crystals of compound 3 (C24H25N5O5, M 463.49) are triclinic, space group P-1 at 120 K: a = 8.2773(9), b = 11.6273(13), c = 11.9759(12) Å; β = 94.980(2)°; V 1097.7(2) Å3; Z 2; dcalc 1.402 g cm−3; F(000) 488.0; μ 0.101 mm−1. The unit cell parameters and intensity of 8547 reflections (4994 independent reflections, Rint 0.0235) were measured on an automatic three-circle diffractometer Bruker SMART APEX-II CCD (MoKa radiation (λ = 0.71073 Å), graphite-monochromator, ω-scanning, 3.57° ≤ 2Θ ≤ 54.968°).

The structure was determined by the direct method and refined by the least-squares technique in the full-matrix anisotropic approximation for non-hydrogen atoms based on F2. The positions of hydrogen atoms were calculated geometrically and were included in the refinement with fixed positional parameters (the “rider” model) and with isotropic displacement parameters (Uiso(H) = 1.5 Ueq(C) for CH3 groups and 1.2Ueq(C) for other groups). The final probability factors were R1 = 0.044 (I ≥ 2σ (I)) and wR2 = 0.106 for all independent reflections. All calculations were carried out using the programs OLEX-2 [20] and SHELXTL [21] software package. Tables of the coordinates of atoms, bond lengths, valence and torsion angles, and anisotropic temperature parameters of compound 3 were deposited at the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Center (deposit CCDC 1848342).

3.5. The Interaction of Isoquinoline with Methyl Propiolate

Methyl propiolate (0.52 g, 6.2 mmol) was added to a solution of isoquinoline 1c (0.5 g, 1.56 mmol) in trifluoroethanol (7 mL). The reaction mixture was heated under reflux for 120 h. The reaction progress was monitored by TLC (sorbfil, EtOAc-hexane, 1:3). The solvent was evaporated in vacuum. The residue was chromatographed on a silica gel column. Vinylisoquinoline 4a and benzazocine 2h were eluted with EtOAc-hexane, 1:2, and recrystallized from EtOAc-hexane mixture.

Methyl (4E)-6-[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]-3-methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-3-benzazocin-5-carboxylate (2h), Yiled 0.14 g (22%); white solid; m.p. = 139–140 °С; Rf = 0.37 (EtOAc-hexane, 1:1); IR (KBr) ν 1679 cm−1 (С=O); 1H-NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.37 (s, 1H, H-4), 7.13–7.10 (m, 4H, H-Ar), 7.05–7.02 (m, 1H, H-Ar), 6.96 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H, H-Ar), 6.86 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 6.13 (s, 1H, H-6), 3.88–3.84 (m, 1H, 2-CH2), 3.83 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.53 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.13–3.03 (m, 3H, 1,2-CH2), 2.91 (s, 3H, N–CH3); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3): δ 169.3, 160.8, 159.4, 153.6, 136.6, 136.1, 132.4, 131.8, 127.7 (2С), 127.32, 127.26, 126.7, 114.1 (2С), 94.3, 55.6, 51.32, 51.25, 44.2, 41.3, 35.7; LCMS m/z: 406 [M + H]+. Elemental analysis: calcd. for C22H23N5O3 C 65.17, H 5.72, N 17.27%, found C 65.36, H 5.95, N 17.03%.

Methyl (2E)-3-{1-[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl}prop-2-enoate (4а), Yield 0.063 g (10%); white solid; m.p. = 132–134 °С; Rf = 0.54 (EtOAc-hexane, 1:2); IR (KBr) ν 1681 cm−1 (С=O); 1H-NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.84 (d, J = 16.0 Hz, 1H, CH=CHCO2CH3), 7.11–7.09 (m, 1H, H-Ar), 7.01 (t, J = 7.5 Hz, 1H, H-Ar), 6.90 (d, J = 7.5 Hz, 1H, H-Ar), 6.66 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 6.58–6.55 (m, 3H, H-Ar), 5.36 (d, J = 16.0 Hz, 1H, CH=CHCO2CH3), 3.77 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.73 (s, 3H, OCH3), 2.64–2.59 (m, 1H, 3-CH2), 2.52 (dd, J = 12.6, 5.1 Hz, 1H, 4-CH2), 2.42–2.40 (m, 1H, 3-CH2), 2.24–2.20 (m, 1H, 4-CH2), 2.18 (s, 3H, N–CH3); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3): δ 165.8, 160.3, 158.5, 144.5, 135.5, 133.3, 128.7 (2C), 127.8, 127.51 (2C), 127.46, 126.6, 126.2, 113.2 (2C), 63.4, 55.5, 51.7, 45.5, 38.8, 28.5; LCMS m/z: 406 [M + H]+. Elemental analysis: calcd. for C22H23N5O3 C 65.17, H 5.72, N 17.27%, found C 64.42, H 5.89, N 17.41%.

3.6. The Interaction of Isoquinoline with Acetylacetylene

Acetylacetylene (0.54 g, 7.9 mmol) was added to a solution of isoquinoline 1c (0.25 g, 0.78 mmol) in trifluoroethanol (5 mL). The reaction mixture was refluxed for 180 hours. The reaction progress was monitored by TLC (sorbfil, EtOAc-hexane, 1:3). The solvent was evaporated in vacuum. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel. Isoquinoline 4b was eluted with EtOAc-hexane, 1:3.

(3E)-4-{1-[1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl]-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl}but-3-ene-2-one (4b), Yiled 0.052 g (17%); white solid; m.p. = 132–134 °С; Rf = 0.40 (EtOAc-hexane, 1:2); IR (KBr) ν 1630 cm−1 (С=O); 1H-NMR (600 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.73 (d, J = 16.5 Hz, 1H, CH=CH-Ac), 7.13 (t, J = 7.5 Hz, 1H, H-Ar), 7.03 (t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H, H-Ar), 6.92 (d, J = 7.5 Hz, 1H, H-Ar), 6.69 (d, J = 9.1 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 6.63 (d, J = 9.1 Hz, 2H, H-Ar), 6.59 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H, H-Ar), 5.58 (d, J = 16.5 Hz, 1H, CH=CH-Ac), 3.80 (s, 3H, OCH3), 2.73–2.64 (m, 1H, 3-CH2), 2.60–2.54 (m, 1H, 4-CH2), 2.49–2.46 (m, 1H, 3-CH2), 2.39 (m, 3H, N–CH3), 2.31–2.20 (m, 4H, COCH3 and 4-CH2); 13C-NMR (150 MHz, CDCl3): δ 198.3, 160.5, 158.2, 143.7, 136.2, 135.5, 133.2, 128.9, 128.8, 128.1, 127.7 (2C), 127.5, 126.5, 113.4 (2C), 63.7, 55.7, 45.8, 39.0, 28.5, 27.1; LCMS m/z: 390 [M + H]+. Elemental analysis: calcd. for C22H23N5O2 C 67.85, H 5.95, N 17.98%, found C 67.98, H 6.21, N 18.10%.