Abstract Intramolecular cyclizations involving N-acyliminium ions are shown to give products in good yields from reactions with CF 3 SO 3 H (triflic acid). The resulting 3-oxo-1, 2, 3, 4- tetrahydroisoquinolines have been converted in high yields to 1, 2-diaryl-1, 2, 3, 4- tetrahydroisoquinolines, which have been recently shown to be selective estrogen receptor modulators. In a reaction using a chiral N-acyliminium ion, cyclization is found to occur in ...
