One-Pot Facile Synthesis of Substituted Isoindolinones via an Ugi Four-Component Condensation/Diels-Alder Cycloaddition/Deselenization-Aromatization Sequence

A versatile one-pot synthesis of substituted isoindolinones from 2-furaldchydes, amines, 2-(phenylselanyt)acrylic acids, and isocyanides is described. The tandem process involves the Ugi four-component condensation, intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition, and subsequent deselenization-arornatization promoted by BF3-OEt2. The procedure is general and efficient and the substrates are easily available.