The Cu(OAc)(2)-catalyzed tandem reaction of 2-(1-alkynyl)-benzaldimines with water for the synthesis of isoquinolin1-(2H)-ones was developed. Moreover, 4-halogen-substituted isoquinolin-1(2H)-ones were obtained in good yields simply by including N-halosuccinimides (NXS: X = Cl, Br, I) in the reaction system. Mechanistic studies indicated that the reactions are probably initiated by highly regioselective intramolecular cyclization of 2-(1-alkynyl) benzaldimines to give the corresponding isoquinolinium intermediates.