Application of Organolithium and Related Reagents in Synthesis. Part 221. Synthetic Strategies Based on Ortho-Aromatic Metallation. A Concise Regiospecific Conversion of Benzoic Acids into the 4-Pyridyl-2H-Phthalazin-1-Ones

The synthesis of phthalazin-1-ones 6, 7, 8 via the reaction of 3-hydroxyisoindolin-l-ones 3, 4, 5 with hydrazine hydrate is described. Starting compounds 3, 4, 5 were regiospecifically prepared upon the lithiation (n-BuLi) of the benzanilides 1 and subsequently the reaction of the dilithiated anilides 2 with methyl pyridinecarboxylates.