A one-step conversion of isoquinolinium salts into naphthalene derivatives1

Berberine chloride (1) upon treatment with NaOAc-Ac₂O yields naphthalene derivatives 4 and 5 In like fashion, 8 gives naphthalene 10; isoquinoline methiodide leads to β-naphthyl acetate; and 12 provides 14. The reaction has been extended to the 3-carbonyl pyridinium series where 3-acetylpyridine methiodide and 3-pyridinecarboxaldehyde methiodide furnish lactones 16 and 17, respectively. All these transformations proceed by initial nucleophilic attack of the acetic anhydride anion on the immonium carbon atom.