Scandium(III) triflate mediated intramolecular ring expansion of aziridines: a direct access to 4-aryltetrahydroisoquinolines

A novel, high yielding facile synthesis of 4-substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines has been developed by employing scandium(III) triflate mediated intramolecular ring expansion of aziridines. The meta-substituted electron-donating group on the benzene ring facilitates trapping of an in situ generated benzyl carbenium ion cation leading to the formation of tetrahydroisoquinolines.