Recent advances in synthesis of isocoumarins: An overview

Abstract

Isocoumarin has been recognised as one of the most privileged heterocyclic motifs for the development of numerous natural product-inspired biologically important compounds. Due to the diverse biological activities of isocoumarins and their role as a pivotal intermediate in synthetic organic chemistry, continuous efforts are devoted towards its synthesis via either traditional or metal-catalyzed reactions. The metal complexes of palladium, copper, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, nickel, zinc and silver are being frequently utilized for the construction of the isocoumarin scaffolds. Among the traditional methods, electrophilic cyclizations, halo-lactonizations are well known methodologies for the development of isocoumarins. This systematically and critically analysed review highlights recent developments in the synthesis of isocoumarin derivatives with plausible reaction mechanisms, their natural occurrence and pharmacological importance, together with their potential applications in medicinal chemistry as active pharmaceutical agents.