C4-substituted isoquinolines: synthesis and cytotoxic action.

A facile synthesis of the C4-substituted isoquinolines 5a-c and 6a-c is described. Commercially available 4-bromoisoquinoline is converted to the alpha,beta-unsaturated esters 8 and 10 on treatment with the appropriate acrylate ester under Heck reaction conditions. The saturated amides 5a-c were obtained from the reaction of ester 9 with the requisite primary amine.