Reductive intramolecular coupling of phthalimides with esters and ketones by low-valent titanium

ABSTRACT The reductive intermolecular coupling of phthalimides with esters by low-valent titanium gave five-, six-, and seven-membered cyclized products as α-hydroxyketones and their further reduced ketones. The obtained cyclized products were transformed to alkylideneisoindolin-1-ones. The reductive intermolecular coupling of phthalimides with ketones by low-valent titanium also gave five-, six-, and seven-membered cyclized products as alkylideneisoindolin-1-ones in one step.