Ruthenium()-catalyzed amide directed spiroannulation with naphthoquinones: access to spiro-isoindolinone frameworks

A mild ruthenium( ii )-catalyzed spiroannulation between benzamides and naphthoquinones is developed for the succinct synthesis of biologically relevant spiro-isoindolinone scaffolds. A base promoted transannulation of spirocyclic products en route to valuable benzo[ b ]phenanthridinetriones in good yields has also been accomplished. A mild ruthenium( ii )-catalyzed spiroannulation between benzamides and naphthoquinones is developed for the succinct synthesis of biologically relevant spiro-isoindolinone scaffolds.