Microwave assisted copper-free Sonogashira coupling/5-exo-dig cycloisomerization domino reaction: access to 3-(phenylmethylene)isoindolin-1-ones and related heterocycles

An efficient microwave assisted one-pot synthesis of substituted 3-(phenylmethylene)isoindolin-1-ones is reported via a copper-free Sonogashira coupling and a regioselective 5-exo-dig cycloisomerization. This domino reaction was also extended to other related heterocycles.