Oxidation and hydrogenation of benzo[g]isoquinolines

The oxidation of methyl-substituted (in the pyridine and benzene rings) benzo[g]isoquinolines to substituted 2-azaanthraquinones was realized. It was established that the pyridine ring is partially reduced to give 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[g]isoquinolines in the hydrogenation of benzo[g]isoquinolines in the presence of rhenium heptasulfide. © 1979 Plenum Publishing Corporation.