New Heteroannulation Reactions of <i>N</i>-Alkoxybenzamides by Pd(II) Catalyzed C–H Activation

A new palladium(II) catalyzed methodology for the direct synthesis of alkylidene isoindolinones from N-alkoxybenzamides is presented. Isoindolinone formation proceeds through a highly efficient and E-selective C–H activation/Heck/Aza-Wacker sequence. Substoichiometric amounts of benzoquinone can be employed in a cooperative oxidation system with O2, leading to facile purification of products. Modification of the reaction conditions provides a general route to substituted phthalimides by carbonylation with CO. Both systems were found to tolerate a wide range of functionality.