Synthesis and stereochemical studies of 1- and 2-phenyl-substituted 1,3-oxazino[4,3-a]isoquinoline derivatives

Starting from the 1′- or 2′-phenyl-substituted 1-(2′-hydroxyethyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline diastereomers and , 4-unsubstituted and 4-(p-nitrophenyl)- and 4-oxo-substituted 1-phenyl- and 2-phenyl-9,10-dimethoxy-2H,4H-1,6,7,11b-tetrahydro-1,3-oxazino[4,3-a]isoquinolines () were prepared. The relative configurations and the predominant conformations of the products were determined by NMR spectroscopy, by quantum chemical calculations and, for (2R∗,4S∗,11bR∗)-9,10-dimethoxy-4-(p-nitrophenyl)-2-phenyl-2H,4H-1,6,7,11b-tetrahydro-1,3-oxazino[4,3-a]isoquinoline (), by X-ray diffraction.