Metal-free construction of aminated isoquinoline frameworks from 2-(2-oxo-2-arylethyl) benzonitrile in an aqueous medium

Herein, we report a metal-free protocol for the activation of nitrile towards the nucleophilic addition and subsequent annulation under an aqueous medium for the first time. The protocol divulges an efficient route for the construction of diversified aminated isoquinolines. Differently substituted primary as well as secondary amines underwent the reaction in a highly regioselective manner. The reaction is operationally simple, shows high functional group tolerance, easier modification of well-known drugs, and successfully extended to gram-scale synthesis.