Free radical cyclization reactions of alkylsulfonyl and alkylthio substituted aromatic amide derivatives

Free radical cyclization reactions of alkylsulfonyl and alkylthio substituted aromatic amide derivatives are described. Carbon radicals can be generated efficiently from the sulfonyl radical induced reaction of allylsulfones or the oxidation of carbonyl compounds with manganese(III) acetate. These radicals undergo either 6-membered or 5-membered ring cyclization onto the aromatic ring effectively and provide synthetically useful methods for the syntheses of quinolinones, indolinones and indolinediones. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.