Electroreductive intermolecular coupling of phthalimides with aldehydes: application to the synthesis of alkylideneisoindolin-1-ones

The electroreduction of N-methyl, N-p-anisyl, and N-unsubstituted phthalimides with aldehydes in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane and triethylamine gave intermolecularly coupled products, 3-hydroxy-3-(1-hydroxyalkyl)isoindolin-1-ones. The coupling products were reduced with Et₃SiH/BF₃·Et₂O to 3-(1-hydroxyalkyl)isoindolin-1-ones, which were dehydrated to alkylideneisoindolin-1-ones. From N-unsubstituted phthalimides, Z-isomers of alkylideneisoindolin-1-ones were obtained stereospecifically.