Palladium-Catalyzed C-H Functionalization of Aromatic Oximes: A Strategy for the Synthesis of Isoquinolines

An efficient strategy for synthesis of isoquinolines via Pd(II)-catalyzed cyclization reaction of oximes with vinyl azides or homocoupling of oximes is reported. Oximes could serve as a directing group and an internal oxidant in the transformation. This reaction features good functional group tolerance and provides a useful protocol for the synthesis of different kinds of isoquinolines under mild conditions. Some control experiments and N-15 isotope labeling experiments were conducted for the mechanistic research.