Facile synthesis of vicinal diamines via oxidation of N-phenyltetrahydroisoquinolines with DDQ

The oxidation of N-phenyltetrahydroisoquinolines occurs rapidly with DDQ. Under ambient conditions and in the presence of nitromethane, the corresponding β-nitroamine derivatives are isolated in good to excellent yields. Variation in the electronic nature of the isoquinoline and the N-phenyl substituent showed that a broad range of substituents are tolerated, with electronic communication between the isoquinoline aromatic ring and the C1 carbon being stronger than with the N-aryl ring. Reduction of the β-nitroamines to the corresponding novel chiral vicinal diamines are straightforward. Examination of the reaction by 1H NMR spectroscopy suggested that the reaction proceeds via an iminium ion, which then reacts with nitromethane upon work-up. This information was used to shorten the required reaction time.