Synthesis of 1-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones.

1,2-Disubstituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones are prepared for the first time through an activated Pictet-Spengler reaction of the corresponding imines of 2-(1,4-dimethoxynaphth-2-yl)ethylamine in the presence of an acyl chloride and AlCl(3) followed by an oxidation with silver(II) oxide in nitric acid. Depending on the reaction conditions the N-trichloroacetyl protecting group could be cleaved off, converted to an N-methoxycarbonyl group or transformed to an N-(2-oxoacetamide) moiety. The synthesized 1,2-disubstituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones constitute a new class of quinones, which has not been reported yet.

Selective transannular ring transformations in azirino-fused eight-membered O,N- or S,N-heterocycles.

The first examples of transannular ring transformations in azirino-fused eight-membered O,N- or S,N-heterocycles involving selective aziridine ring opening and medium-sized ring contraction are described, which provide an access to functionalized 1,4-benzox(thi)azines or 1,3-benzox(thi)azoles.