Rhodium Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Quinolines and Isoquinolines under Water-Gas Shift Conditions

Abstract Wide variety of quinolines and isoquinolines can be hydrogenated selectively in the nitrogen-containing ring by means of carbon monoxide and water in the presence of catalytic amount of rhodium carbonyl cluster. These reactions provide a useful method for the preparation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines which are key intermediates for the synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids and other biologically active nitrogen compounds.