Lewis acid promoted three-component reactions of aziridines, arenes and aldehydes: an efficient and diastereoselective synthesis of cis-1,4-disubstituted tetrahydroisoquinolines

A new Lewis acid promoted three-component reaction between the aziridine, arene and aldehyde has been developed. This reaction involves sequential ring opening of aziridine and Pictet–Spengler condensation and gives a broad range of cis-1,4-disubstituted tetrahydroisoquinolines in moderate yields with good diastereoselectivities under mild conditions. The methodology provides a rapid and convergent synthesis for the scaffold of tetrahydroisoquinoline and serves as a good tool for constructing the libraries of substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines.

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