Synthesis of 3-alkylideneisoindolinones and isoindolones by a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction

Abstract

A series of 3-alkylideneisoindolinones was prepared by a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) reaction of aromatic aldehydes with N-(ω-hydroxyalkyl)-substituted 3-phosphoisoindolin-1-ones, obtained in one-pot synthesis from 2-formylbenzoic acid. Additionally, the intramolecular HWE reaction of the N-(ω-formylalkyl)-substituted phosphoisoindolin-1-ones afforded the corresponding isoindolone derivatives.