Convenient access to isoindolinones via carbamoyl radical cyclization. Synthesis of cichorine and 4-hydroxyisoindolin-1-one natural products

An efficient and convenient access to 2-tert-butylisoindolin-1-ones via an oxidative radical cyclization process from stable carbamoylxanthates, derived from secondary tert-butylamines, is described. The proposed mechanism for this transformation involves, the generation of a carbamoyl radical, its cyclization to the aromatic system, and the dilauroyl peroxide (DLP) mediated rearomatization to generate the isoindolinone ring system. Additionally, the syntheses of cichorine and 4-hydroxyisoindolin-1-one natural products were carried out to underscore the synthetic potential of this xanthate-based carbamoyl radical-oxidative cyclization. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.