Reduction of Benzolactams to Isoindoles via an Alkoxide-Catalyzed Hydrosilylation

Org Lett. 2017 Nov 17;19(22):6048-6051. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.7b02739. Epub 2017 Oct 27.

Abstract

An alkoxide-catalyzed reduction of benzolactams to isoindoles with silanes was realized. With t-BuOK as the catalyst and Ph2SiH2 as the reductant, a series of benzolactams containing different functional groups were reduced to the corresponding isoindoles, which could be captured by N-phenyl maleimide to form Diels-Alder products in moderate to good yields. Deuterium labeling studies and the hydrosilylation of benzolactam in DMF indicated that the deprotonation of benzolactams took place at C3 potion during the reduction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't