(1R,3R)-1,3-Dimethyl-8-hydroxy-6- methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline Hydrochloride - an Enantiomerically Pure Building Block for the Synthesis of Naphthylisoquinoline Alkaloids

The title compound was prepared by hydrogenolytic deprotection of the corresponding Nbenzyl derivative, which had previously been synthesized by a Picted-Spengler condensation of the corresponding arylethylamine. It crystallizes from dichloromethane/methanol in the orthorhombic system, space group P2 a = 1305.7(2), b = 1400.3(3), c = 727.4(1) pm. Hydrogen bonds between Cl and OH and NH groups cause a threedimensional arrangement.