The synthesis of carbon linked bis-benzylisoquinolines using Mizoroki–Heck and Sonagashira coupling reactions

Novel laudanosine dimers in which two laudanosine units are linked at C-2′ via a two or three-carbon linker (alkane, alkene or alkyne) have been prepared using palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reactions (Mizoroki–Heck and Sonagashira reactions). In one example, a second three-carbon linker between the two isoquinoline N-atoms was also present leading to a novel macrocyclic ring system.