Transition Metal Promoted Synthesis of Isoindoline Derivatives

Isoindoline can be considered as the “hydrogenated sister” of isoindole which is widespread in nature as heterocyclic core of alkaloids and antibiotics. This chapter is devoted to the analysis of the methods involving the use of transition metal catalysts with particular regard to the activity of specific organometallic species. Transition-metal-catalysed cyclisations of three π-systems have been deeply investigated as valuable synthetic tool for the generation of aromatic rings. Transition metal-promoted Diels-Alder reactions represent a very convenient methodology for the synthesis of nonaromatic nitrogen heterocycles. Several transition metals have been successfully adopted as catalysts for the intramolecular aza-Michael addition of ortho-alkenyl benzyl amine derivatives. A relevant synthetic route to isoindolines is based on 5-exo-dig cyclization through C—C bond formation achieved by intramolecular a-arylation.