The aldol addition of readily enolizable 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to 2-cyanobenzaldehyde in the synthesis of novel 3-substituted isoindolinones

The aldol addition of readily enolizable 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to 2-cyanobenzaldehyde in the presence of a tertiary amine led to a series of new 3-substituted isoindolinones. Despite the instability of the related aldols, this synthesis was possible because of the intramolecular trapping of the adducts with the cyano group due to a tandem process of cyclization-rearrangement. Simple decarboxylation of some derivatives gave access to some very useful compounds.