The non-enzymatic formation of the racemic isoindolinone core structure during the
biosynthesis of the marine natural products mariline A and B was mimicked by employing
structurally closely related model substrates. Thus, condensation of 2-formyl-3,5-dimethoxy-4-methyl-acetophenone
with different primary amines in the presence of AcOH afforded the isoindolinone products
in up to 73% yield.
Key words
natural products - biomimetic synthesis - heterocycles - isoindolinones - aromatic
compounds.