A method for preparing 1-cyano-2-acyl-1,2,3,4-
tetrahydroisoquinoline compounds, which are shown by formula III. In the presence of light, a
photosensitizer and a
desiccant, the compound shown by the general formula of structure I first undergoes a photoredox reaction, and then the compound shown by the general formula of structure II is added in situ, and then a Reissert-type reaction is carried out to obtain the 1-cyano-2-acyl-1,2,3,4-
tetrahydroisoquinoline compound shown by the general formula of structure III. The present invention uses simple and readily available 1,2,3,4-
tetrahydroisoquinoline compounds and acyl nitriles as raw materials; the acyl
nitrile serves as both an acyl source and a cyano source, on the one hand avoiding highly toxic cyano sources, and on the other hand having high
atom economy; under
blue light irradiation, air can be used as an oxidant, with high environmental friendliness; the 1-cyano-2-acyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline compound is constructed through a "one-pot" reaction
cascade of photoredox and Reissert-type reactions, with mild
reaction conditions, simple operation, high step economy, and good application prospects.