Synthesis and reactions of 1-amino-1,5,6,10b-tetrahydroimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-2(3H)-ones

1-Amino-1,5,6,10b-tetrahydroimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-2(3H)-ones, as previously unknown ring-annelated isoquinolines with a 3-aminoimidazolidin-4-one scaffold, were selectively prepared upon reacting 2-carbamoylmethyl- or 2-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium salts with hydrazine hydrate. Acylation of the primary amino group with benzoyl chlorides, followed by reductive ring cleavage of the annelated 4-imidazolidinone ring and final cyclodehydration of the N,N'-diacylhydrazines resulted in the synthesis of 1-methyl-2(5-aryl-[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-ylmethyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines which are of interest due to their potential use as bioisosteres of biologically active N-aryl-2-(1-methyl-3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-2-yl) acetamides.