Stereoselective syntheses of chiral (3S,9bS)-1,2,3,9b-tetrahydro-5H-imidazo[2,1-a]isoindol-5-ones

Abstract

Chiral (3S,9bS)-1,2,3,9b-tetrahydro-5H-imidazo[2,1-a]isoindol-5-ones 11a-11f, 14b,14c and 17a,b were prepared in 78-93% yields with high stereoselectivities (d.e. >99%) by the intermolecular condensations of 2-formylbenzoic acids 10 or 13 or 2-acetylbenzoic acid 15 with chiral diamines 9a-9f and 9h. Compounds 9a-9f and 9h were readily prepared in three steps from optically active N-Boc-α-amino acids 5a-5d. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.