One‐Pot Synthesis of Isoquinolinium Salts by Rhodium‐Catalyzed CH Bond Activation: Application to the Total Synthesis of Oxychelerythrine

It's worth its salt: The title reaction leads to the synthesis of highly substituted isoquinolinium salts (see scheme; Cp*=Me5C5). The reaction proceeds through a CH activation and a subsequent annulation in the presence of a rhodium catalyst. The reaction mechanism is discussed as well as its application to the synthesis of the natural product oxychelerythrine.