Synthesis of 3-methyleneisoindolin-1-ones via palladium-catalyzed C–Cl bond cleavage and cyclocarbonylation of ortho-chloro ketimines

PdCl2(PCy3)2-catalyzed cyclocarbonylative coupling of ortho-chloro arylketimines with CO has been investigated to develop an efficient method for the synthesis of isoindolin-1-ones. The developed synthetic method has the advantages of having easily available starting materials, high atom-economy, and high selectivity.