hide
Free keywords:
cyano compounds; isoindoles; oxygenation; strained compounds
Abstract:
N-Arylisoindolines 1a–i react with ethenetetracarbonitrile 2 in aerated benzene by formation of [3-(2-aryl-3-dicyanomethylene-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-ylidene)-2-aryl-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-1-ylidene]propanedinitriles 8a–i (20–36%), N-aryl-3-dicyanomethylene-isoindol-2-ones 9a–i (15–21%) and N-arylphthalimides 10a–i (4–9%) as well as 1,1,2,2-tetracyanoethane 11 (35–55%). The structure of 8d has been unambiguously confirmed by a single crystal X-ray structure analysis. A rationale for the formation of products 8–11 is presented.