Abstract
The electrosynthesis of substituted isoquinolines via silver-mediated intramolecular cyclization of 2-ethynylbenzaldehydes with ammonium acetate is presented. The reaction employs Ag-(+)|C(-) electrodes in a DMF/isopropanol mixture at 60 °C using LiClO(4) as the supporting electrolyte, affording isoquinoline derivatives in yields up to 76%. Control experiments and DFT calculations were conducted to support a plausible reaction mechanism.