Three-component coupling using arynes and isocyanides: straightforward access to benzo-annulated nitrogen or oxygen heterocycles

A variety of aldehydes, ketones, benzoquinones, or sulfonylimines were found to couple with arynes and isocyanides, giving iminodihydroisobenzofuran or iminoisoindoline derivatives of structural diversity in a straightforward manner. Nucleophilic addition of isocyanides to arynes, a first step of the three-component coupling, was proved to be reversible by the reaction of an unsymmetrical aryne. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.