Practical and high stereoselective synthesis of 3-(arylmethylene)isoindolin-1-ones from 2-formylbenzoic acid

Practical and high stereoselective synthesis of 3-(arylmethylene)isoindolin-1-ones is reported. The synthetic method involves the preparation of dimethyl isoindolin-1-one-3-yl-phosphonates by a ‘one-pot’ three-component reaction of 2-formylbenzoic acid with 4-methoxybenzylamine or aminoacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal and dimethyl phosphite under solvent and catalyst free-conditions, followed by a Horner reaction with several aryl aldehydes.