An S_RN1 Route to 3-Substituted and Fused Isoquinolin-1-(2H)-ones

Significance

An efficient one-pot synthesis of 3-substituted and fused isoquinolin-1-(2H)-ones via a photostimulated S_RN1 reaction is described. Thus, 2-iodobenzamide undergoes reaction with enolates of aromatic, aliphatic and cyclic ketones under irradiation in the presence of t-BuOK to afford the quinolone products in modest to excellent yields. The scope and functional group tolerance of the reaction were not adequately investigated.