Abstract
A new type of ring closure has been established for the synthesis of some 1-substituted-6, 7-dimethoxy-3, 4-dihydroisoquinoline derivatives through desulfurization of N- (3, 4-dimethoxyphenethyl) thioamides. Mercuric chloride proved to be the only effective desulfurizing agent which produces the optimum yield of cyclized products when three moles of it are used for each mole of thioamide in acetonitrile. A reaction mechanism was tentatively proposed from the intermediates. Several organic mercurial products such as II, VI and VII were also obtained.
