Synthesis 2007(14): 2157-2163  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-983744
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Preparation of Polycyclic Azaarenes by an Extended Pomeranz-Fritsch Procedure

Michael J. E. Hewlins*, Rhys Salter
School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
Fax: +44(29)20874030; e-Mail: Hewlins@cardiff.ac.uk;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 12 April 2007
Publication Date:
10 July 2007 (online)

Abstract

An extension of the Pomeranz-Fritsch procedure has been evaluated as a route to some polycyclic azaarenes. Aromatic aldehydes were treated with the dimethyl and diethyl acetals of 2-aminoethanal, the resulting imines reduced to amines which were tosylated and the resulting sulfonamides treated under a range of acidic conditions. The two naphthaldehydes led to benzo[f]isoquinoline and benzo[h]isoquinoline in overall yields of 13% and 36%. Phenanthrene-9-carbaldehyde and phenanthrene-3-carbaldehyde gave dibenzo[f,h]isoquinoline and naphtho[2,1-g]isoquinoline, respectively, as the major tetracyclic products. No pentacyclic product was obtained from a similar sequence starting from pyrene-1-carbaldehyde.