Palladium catalyzed insertion of carbon monoxide into benzyl-tetrahydroisoquinolines : A new synthesis of berbine alkaloids

A new total synthesis of the berbine alkaloid ring system has been achieved. Palladium catalyzed insertion of carbon monoxide into the 1 - (2 - bromobenzyl) - substituted - 1,2,3,4 - tetrahydroisoquinolines (1a–1d) by the use of catalytic amounts of palladium diacetate and triphenylphosphine in the presence of tri-n-butylamine afforded the berbin-8-ones (2a–2d) which, on reduction with lithium aluminium hydride gave the berbines (±)-berbine 3a, (±)2,3-dimethoxyberbine 3b, (±)-xylopinine 3c and (±)-pseudoepitetrahydroberbine 3d.