A Ligand-Free Pd-Catalyzed Cascade Reaction: An Access to the Highly Diverse Isoquinolin-1(2H)-one Derivatives via Isocyanide and Ugi-MCR Synthesized Amide Precursors

A novel ligand-free palladium-catalyzed cascade reaction for the synthesis of highly diverse isoquinolin-1(2H)-one derivatives from isocyanide and amide precursors synthesized by Ugi-MCR has been developed. A broad variety of acids, amines, and isocyanides were used as starting materials for Ugi-MCR leading to various amide precursors, which in turn provided entry into diverse isoquinolin-1(2H)-one derivatives. The reaction proceeds through tandem isocyanide insertion with intramolecular cyclization followed by a Mazurciewitcz-Ganesan type sequence to provide isoquinoline-1(2H)-one derivatives in moderate to good yields.