High-yielding synthesis of 1-isoindolinone derivatives via palladium-catalysed cycloaminocarbonylation

1-Isoindolinone derivatives were synthesised in high yields (up to 89%) by using 2-iodobenzyl bromide and 2-iodobenzylamine as bifunctional substrates in palladium-catalysed carbonylation. Depending on the N-nucleophiles, two types of compounds were synthesised with 2-iodobenzyl bromide: the use of primary amines, including amino acid methylesters, resulted in the formation of N-substituted 1-isoindolinones, while secondary amines react both with the benzyl bromide and iodoarene moieties resulting in the corresponding ortho-(N-piperidino/morpholinomethyl)-benzamides. The parent 1-isoindolinone was obtained in a facile, highly chemoselective intramolecular aminocarbonylation of 2-iodobenzylamine. The mechanistic details of the ring-closure reaction and the conditions leading to side-products are discussed as well.