“…A wide variety of solvents and additives have been shown to accommodate or modify the tranformation, which nonetheless occurs rapidly at modest temperatures even in the absence of added acid or base promoters. Under certain conditions, stereoselective, or even enantioselective, 15,16 formation of the 3,4- cis - or 3,4- trans 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-one-4-carboxylic acid product ( 4 , a “THIQ”) can be achieved, and for most THIQ products treatment of cis - 4 with acid, base, or heat promotes complete isomerization to the more stable trans - 4 . While examples of non-aromatic imines are known, 11,17,18,19,20 most investigations have involved N-substituted benzalimines ( 3 ), and these substrates typically give the highest yields and find the widest application.…”