Synthesis of new 3-substituted-2H-1,2-naphthothiazin-4(3H)-one 1,1-dioxides via directed ortho-metalation reaction

The reaction of compounds 6a–i, readily available from α-amino acids, with an excess of lithium diisopropylamide, leads to new 3-substituted-2H-1,2-naphthothiazin-4(3H)-one 1,1-dioxides 7a–i, with yields ranging between 21 and 70%. The key steps are: the naphthylsulfonyl ortho-deprotonation based on the directed ortho-metalation reaction followed by a regiospecific intramolecular cyclisation reaction. Lithiation–deuteration experiments carried out on the naphthylsulfonamides 8 and 9 using n-BuLi and LDA demonstrated the regioselectivity of the deprotonation of the H-3 over the H-1 one of the naphthalene ring.