Regioselective Condensation of Alkylidenephosphoranes to N-Methoxy- and N-Anilino-1H isoindole-1,3-(2H)-diones

Treatment of 2-methoxyisoindoline-1,3-dione with resonance-stabilized alkylidenephosphoranes afforded the corresponding monoalkenes as the sole reaction product, in ～58–63% yields, whereas more than 80% yields of the same monoolefin products were obtained when the reactions were carried out under microwave conditions. Similarly, 2-(phenylamino)isoindoline-1,3-dione reacted under either thermal or microwave conditions to give only the corresponding monoalkene derivatives. The alkene products from both substrates were further reduced to the corresponding isoindoles using Zn-dust in EtOH. Prediction of the designed compounds and the in vivo anti-inflammation activity of the products in the rat adjuvant model were also studied. The work is the first demonstration of the anti-inflammatory activity of phthalimide derivatives.