Oxidative C–H functionalization: a novel strategy for the acetoxylation/alkoxylation of arenes tethered to 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines

1-Aryl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines undergo smooth acetoxylation/alkoxylation in the presence of 5 mol % Pd(OAc)2 and a stoichiometric amount of PhI(OAc)2 by means of C–H activation to produce the corresponding acetoxy- and alkoxy-1-aryl-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline derivatives respectively in good yields with high regioselectivity. It is a first example on oxidative functionalization of arenes tethered to dihydroisoquinoline moiety via the C–H activation.