Reacts with various acid halides in the presence of CN- to give "Reissert compounds" (1-cyano-2-acyl 1,2-dihydro derivatives). For reviews, see: Chem. Rev., 55, 511 (1955); Adv. Het. Chem., 9, 1 (1968); 24, 187 (1979). 1-Alkylisoquinolines can be prepared by alkylation of the Li or Na derivatives of Reissert compounds: Org. Synth. Coll., 4, 641 (1963); 6, 115 (1988). For formation of Reissert compounds from a variety of carbonyl, sulfonyl and phosphoryl halides under milder, phase-transfer conditions, see: Synthesis, 497 (1977). For ’direct’ cyanation by a modified Reissert procedure in the presence of tosyl chloride followed by DBU, see: J. Org. Chem., 49, 4056 (1984).
