An efficient and enviromentally friendly CuBr/NHPI co-catalyzed aerobic oxidative [3 + 2] cycloaddition–aromatization cascade was realized with N-substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines and electron-deficient olefins. Under the mild conditions, the reaction proceeded smoothly and displayed excellent functional group tolerance, affording 5,6-dihydro-pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines in good to high yields. This protocol exhibits a broad substrate scope to both N-alkyl tetrahydroisoquinolines and dipolarophile substrates.
![Graphical abstract: CuBr/NHPI co-catalyzed aerobic oxidative [3 + 2] cycloaddition-aromatization to access 5,6-dihydro-pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines](http://hg.y866.cn/compound/lib/scimg/usr/1/D0OB01403F.jpg)