Synfacts 2009(12): 1329-1329  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1218225
Synthesis of Heterocycles
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Pyridones and Isoquinolones

Contributor(s): Victor Snieckus, Timothy Hurst
K. Pati, R.-S. Liu*
National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, P. R. of China
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Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
20. November 2009 (online)

Significance

Reported here is the synthesis of 3(2H)-isoquinolones 2 via the ruthenium-catalyzed cycloisomerization of o-alkynylphenyl nitrones 1. The reaction is tolerant of both EDGs and EWGs on the aromatic ring, as well as either a methyl or benzyl group on the nitrone moiety. The scope of this cycloisomerization was extended to the synthesis of α-pyridones from non-aromatic 3-en-5-ynyl nitrones in high yield. A plausible mechanism for this reaction is proposed which involves formation of a vinylidene-ruthenium intermediate followed by 8π-electrocyclization, N-O bond cleavage and a final 6π-electrocyclization to generate the product. Deuterium-labeling studies were carried out which support this mechanism.