A versatile approach for the asymmetric synthesis of 3-alkyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindolin-1-ones

Based on the use of (R)-p-benzyloxyphenylglycinol () as a new oxidatively cleavable chiral auxiliary, a flexible approach to (R)-3-alkyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindolin-1-ones via a diastereoselective reductive-alkylation is developed. The oxidative cleavage of the chiral auxiliary by CAN under mild conditions ensured the access to (R)-3-alkyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindolin-1-ones with ee at least 92%.