Kyu Myung Lee, Jong Chan Kim, Philjun Kang, Won Koo Lee*, Heesung Eum, Hyun-Joon Ha*
Preparation of functionalized 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines 17aej from (S)-N-methoxy-N-methyl-1-[(R)-
1-phenylethyl]aziridine-2-carboxamide 4 is an effective route for the synthesis of 3-(hydroxymethyl)-
1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-4-ols. Stereoselective reduction of the cyclic imines 17aej resulted
in (1S,3S,4R)-4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl-oxy)-3-[(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)methyl]-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2-
disubstituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines and the desilylation of the TBS groups afforded (1S,3S,4R)-
3-(hydroxymethyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2-disubstituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-4-ols 19aei in good
yields. Also, an asymmetric synthesis of novel tetracyclic 3-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-
4-ols 23 and 25 was successfully achieved via Pd-catalyzed N-arylation and CeC coupling reaction.

