A shorter, alternative synthesis of 8-amino-2-methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1-one is described in 32% overall yield, over three steps starting from commercially available 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzonitrile. The synthesis includes two ‘one-pot’ procedures in which the key process involves the microwave-assisted hydrolysis of a nitrile group followed by lactamization under elevated temperatures.
lactam - microwaves - cyclization - Bredereck’s reagent - isoquinolinone