Preparation of 2‐aminobenzophenones and polysubstituted quinolines through SmI2 promoted reductive cleavage of 3‐aryl‐2,1‐benzisoxazoles

Promoted by SmI₂, 3‐aryl‐2,1‐benzi‐ soxazoles underwent reductive cleavage of the N O bond leading to 2‐aminobenzophenones in high yields upon protonation. Otherwise, if ketones with active methylene group were added to the reaction mixture prior to protonation, the desired polysubstituted quinolines could be obtained under mild conditions in a one‐pot manner. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 16:637–643, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20164