2-Aryl-27/-isoindoles, synthesis

An ingenious synthesis of 1-arylisoindolcs has been developed by Vebor and Lwowski, based upon the reaction of an o-phthalimido-methylbenzophenone (41, R = aryl) with hydrazine (Table IV). The benzophenone is prepared by a Friedel-Crafts reaction with o-phthalimidomethylbenzoyl chloride (40). The mechanism of isoindole formation can be represented sehematically by a sequence involving attack by hydrazine at the imide to give the ring-opened hj drazide (42), followed by cyclization to phthalazine-l,4-dione (44) with displacement of the o-aminomethylbenzophenone (43). Intramolecular condensation of the latter can lead, via the isoindolenine... 

An interesting extrapolation of this synthesis deals with the preparation of the bispyridinium salt 62 from 1,2-phthalic dicarboxaldehyde and its subsequent reaction with primary amines (92BSB509).Tlie expected diimines 63 readily cyclize so that 2-aryl-l-arylimino-2,3-dihydro-l//-isoindoles 64 can be isolated in excellent yields (90-95%). Contrary to the reactions performed by employing the dialdehyde and amines directly, the syntheses involving the azinium salts do not produce those typical dark-colored complex mixtures of products (77JOC4217 85JHC449) (Scheme 20). 

Wu and co-workers developed a synthesis of benzannulated nitrogen heterocycles 120 and 121 based on the addition of sodium methoxide to 2-alkynylbenzo-nitriles 118 in methanol, followed by the Pd(PPh3)4-catalyzed heteroannulation of ketimine intermediate 119 with aryl iodides [104]. The 5-exo versus 6-endo mode of cyclization leading to isoindoles 120 or isoquinolines 121, respectively, proved to be dependent on the nature of the substituent on the terminal alkyne carbon. 2-(2-Phenylethynyl) benzonitrile 118a underwent exclusive 5-exo cyclization whereas 2-(l-hexynyl)benzonitrile 118b led to mixtures of isomers with a marked preference for the 6-endo mode of cyclization. This endo/exo balance was attributed to steric interactions between the entering group and the substituent on the terminal alkyne carbon (Scheme 8.49). 

This microwave-accelerated double alkylation reaction was applicable to a variety of aniline derivatives and dihalides, furnishing N-aryl azacycloalkanes in good to excellent yields [89]. The reaction was applicable to alkyl chlorides, bromides and iodides and was extended to include hydrazines [90]. This improved synthetic methodology provided a simple and straightforward one-pot approach to the synthesis of a variety of heterocycles such as substituted azetidines, pyrrolidines, piperidines, azepanes, N-substituted-2,3-dihydro-Iff-isoindoles, 4,5-dihydro-pyrazoles, pyrazolidines, and 1,2-dihydro-phthalazines [91]. The mild reaction conditions tolerated a variety of functional groups such as hydroxyls, carbonyls, and esters. 

Category Ilae cyclizations play a prominent role in the synthesis of isoindoles. Simple 2-alkyl-2/f-isoindoles can be prepared from l,2-bis-(bromomethyl)benzene via dihydroisoindole-A(-oxides. The oxides undergo Polonovsky elimination in acetic anhydride/triethylamine <88CZ85>. A similar reaction sequence can be applied to the synthesis of 2-aryl analogs (Scheme 72) <87CZI55>. 

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