Sequential Staudinger/Pictet–Spengler cyclization strategy for the construction of tetrahydroisoquinolines of the bioxalomycin and ecteinascidin family of alkaloids

The use of the Staudinger ketene–imine β-lactam-forming cycloaddition reaction and the Pictet–Spengler cyclization reaction in sequence, has been used to prepare highly functionalized tetrahydroisoquinolines relevant to the bioxalomycin and ecteinascidin family of antitumor alkaloids.