A sequential single-flask multicomponent reactions is highly effective for the synthesis of 1,2-dihydroisoquinolines through amidealkylation from intermediate N-acylisoquinolinium salts under mild conditions. N-Acylisoquinolinium ions and trichloromethyl-1-(1H-indol-3-yl)isoquinoline-2(1H)-carboxylate have demonstrated their reactivity toward aromatic and aliphatic π-nucleophiles. One of the 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline derivatives was found to be a potent inhibitor for transcription factor NF-κB by blocking IκBα degradation, p65 nuclear translocation, and NF-κB DNA binding in TNF-α-induced NIH 3T3 cells.

2-(Acylmethylene)pyrrolidine derivatives were synthesized via intermolecular decarbonylative Mannich reaction from various methyl ketones and 1-alkyl-1-pyrroliniums, generated in situ from 1-alkylprolines. This approach mimics the biosynthetic pathway and provides a direct access to a series of 2-(acylmethylene)pyrrolidine alkaloids, including hygrine, N-methylruspolinone, dehydrodarlinine, and ruspolinone.

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