A conceptually new approach to the asymmetric synthesis of 3-aryl and alkyl poly-substituted isoindolinones

A conceptually new and efficient asymmetric synthesis of C-3 arylated or alkylated poly-substituted iso-indolinones is reported. The key step is the diastereoselective reduction of an N-acylhydrazonium species derived from the previously assembled corresponding hydroxyl derivative hearing the (S)-2-methoxymethylpyrrolidine (SMP) auxiliary. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.