Various 3-(N-substituted amino)-1-isoindolenones were readily synthesized quantitatively by reactions of 2-cyanobenzaldehyde with amines at low temperature such as 20 °C.
An electrochemical initiated tandem reaction of anilines with 2-formyl benzonitrile has been developed. Thus, unprecedented 3-N-aryl substituted isoindolinones have been conveniently achieved by constant current electrolysis in a divided cell using catalytic amount of electricity and supporting electrolyte and a Pt-cathode as working electrode. The origin of the electrochemical activation as well as