Chemoselective Strategy for the Direct Formation to Tetrahydro-2,5-methanobenzo[c]azepines or Azeto-Tetrahydroisoquinolines via Regio- and Stereoselective Reactions.

The present study reports regio- and highly diastereoselective preparative methods for the synthesis of versatile alkaloid type compounds from oxiranylmethyl tetrahydroisoquinolines. 2,5-Methanobenzo[c]azepines or azetidine fused heterocycles were synthesized in tandem reactions depending on the absence or presence of BF3 co-reagent. A high functional group tolerance has also been demonstrated. DFT calculations with explicit solvent model confirmed the proposed reaction mechanisms and the role of kinetic controls on the stereochemical outcome of the reported new methods.