It is shown that 3, 4-dihydroisoquinolines are activated toward nucleophilic attack by reaction with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate. The complex so formed reacts readily with the lithio derivative of 3-cyano-4-methyl-5-vinylpyridine, affording in a single step a tetracyclic amidine from which a lactam is obtained by hydrolysis. These reactions have been applied to the synthesis of the Alangium alkaloids,(±)-alangimaridine and ...
[Jahangir; MacLean, David B.; Brook, Michael A.; Holland, Herbert L. Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications, 1986 , # 21 p. 1608 - 1609]