Synthesis of 3-substituted 4-aroylisoquinolines via Pd-catalyzed carbonylative cyclization of o-(1-alkynyl)benzaldimines.

[reaction: see text] o-(1-Alkynyl)benzaldimines react with aryl iodides and 1 atm of CO in the presence of tri-n-butylamine and a Pd(PPh(3))(4) catalyst to afford good yields of 3-substituted 4-aroylisoquinolines by acylpalladation of the carbon-carbon triple bond and cyclization.