Solvent-switched benzylic methylene functionalization: addition, ring-opening, cyclization, and unexpected cleavage of C-O and C-C bonds

Org Lett. 2013 Aug 2;15(15):3848-51. doi: 10.1021/ol401470y. Epub 2013 Jul 24.

Abstract

Intermolecular benzylic methylene functionalization of exo-cyclic enol ethers has been achieved using imines as reagents and potassium tert-butoxide as the catalyst. Depending on the solvent used, the reaction proceeds by two pathways. In THF, an addition/elimination reaction of exo-cyclic enol ethers with imines provides dihydroisobenzofuran derivatives in good yield. In DMSO, an addition/ring-opening/cyclization cascade reaction occurs with unexpected cleavage of C-O and C-C bonds, affording isoquinolin-1(2H)-one products in high yield under ambient reaction conditions.