The synthesis of 1-alkyl-4a-(4-chlorophenyl)- 4,4a-dihydropyrimido[6,1-a]isoindol-9(3H)-one

The primary amino group of 3-(2-aminoethyl)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-one ( 1 ) was acylated with acetyl chloride, benzoyl chloride and phenyl acetyl chloride to form the amides 2a -c, respectively. These were cyclized in phosphorus oxychloride to give the 1-substituted-4a-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4a-dihydropyrimido [6,1-a]isoindol-9(3H)-ones 3a-c . Heating of 1 in formic acid lead to the formation of 4a-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4a-dihydropyrimido[6,1-a]isoindol-9(3H) -one (3d) . Heating of 1 in the presence of phosgene lead to the formation of 4a-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,3,4,4a-tetrahydropyrimido[6,1-a]isoindole-1, 9-dione (4).