Isoquinoline reacts smoothly with aroylnitromethanes in the presence of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and dibenzoylacetylene to produce pyrrolo [2, 1-a] isoquinolines in good yields. Quinoline and benzothiazole also react in a similar way. Pyridine and N- methylimidazole catalyze the reaction between nitromethane derivatives with electron- deficient acetylenes to produce highly functionalized isoxazoles.
