A new approach to isoindoloisoquinolinones. A simple synthesis of nuevamine

A convenient and versatile short step synthesis of isoindoloisoquinolinones, illustrated by the total synthesis of the alkaloid nuevamine , is described. The tetracyclic lactam compounds were obtained by a tactical combination of the Parham procedure for the elaboration of the isoindolinone template and an aryne-mediated cyclization giving rise to the nitrogen containing six-membered heteroring unit.