Conversion of novel palladacycles into oxopyrrolo[3,4-b]quinolines

The quinolinylcyclopalladated complexes 3a–b were synthesised in good yields (81% and 77%) by the insertion reaction of the prepared dinuclear palladium complexes Pd(C,N-2-C₉H₄N-CHO-3-R-6)Cl(PPh₃)]₂ (R = H (2a), R = OMe (2b)] with isonitrile XyNC (Xy = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃). The cyclopalladated complexes 3a–b were also obtained in low yields (39% and 33.5%) via a one pot oxidative addition reaction of quinoline chloride 1a–b with isonitrile XyNC:Pd(dba)₂ (4:1). The reactions of 3a–b with Tl(TfO) (TfO = triflate, CF₃SO₃) in the presence of H₂O or EtOH causes depalladation reactions of the complexes to provide the corresponding organic compounds 4a–b, 5a–b and 6a–b in yields (41%, 27% and 18–19%). The products were characterized by satisfactory elemental analyses and spectral studies (IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR). The crystal structures of 2a, 3a and 3b were determined by X-ray diffraction studies.