A highly efficient metal-free oxidative direct C(sp
3
)–H functionalization of
N
-acyl/sulfonyl 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQs) with a wide range of electron-rich nucleophiles was accomplished under mild conditions through oxidation with DDQ and subsequent trapping of the resulting reactive and stable
N
-acyl/sulfonyl iminium ions. The synthetic utility of this method was illustrated by a concise and efficient total synthesis of (±)-benzo[
a
]quinolizidine (
10
) in 3 steps from the known
N
-Cbz 1,2,3,4-THIQ
4b
.