A new diastereoselective multicomponent, one-pot strategy for the synthesis of 3-substituted isoindolinones via efficient C–C bond formation

A new three-component reaction among o-phthalaldehyde, N-alkyl/aryl substituted urea, and an aromatic aldehyde has been developed at ambient condition, and a class of isoindolinones with novel C-3 substitution were conveniently synthesized. The general diastereomeric excess as high as over 99% of the products indicated the excellent stereoselectivity posed in this multicomponent reaction.