Isoindoloisoquinalinone, pyrroloisoquinolinone and benzo[a]quinolizinone units are constructed via intramolecular cyclization of the methoxy substituted N-phenethylimides using BBr3.
Activation of imide carbonyl group with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid facilitates the intramolecular cyclization of phenethylphthalimides to give a fused isoindoloisoquinolinone skeleton. The first one pot regioselective synthesis of isoindoloisoquinolinone alkaloid (±)-nuevamine has been successfully executed using this methodology.