Reaction Steps
A stirred mixture 1-(3-ethoxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylsulfonylethylamine (100 mg, 0.37 mmol) and 1,2-phthalic dicarboxaldehyde (49 mg, 0.37 mmol) in acetic acid (2 mL) was heated to reflux for 15 min. Removal of solvent in vacuo and chromatography gave an oil which was stirred with ether (2 mL). The resulting suspension was filtered to yield 2-[1-(3-ethoxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylsulfonylethyl]isoindolin-1-one as a light yellow solid (100 mg, 70% yield): mp, 130.0-134.0° C.; 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.45 (t, J s=7 Hz, 3H, CH3), 2.96 (s, 3H, CH3), 3.70 (dd, J=4.5, 14.7, Hz, 1H, CHH), 3.86 (s, 3H, CH3), 4.07 (q, J=6.9 Hz, 2H, CH2), 4.25 (d, J=16.5 Hz, 1H, CHH), 4.31 (dd, J=10.3, 14.5 Hz, 1H, CHH), 4.46 (d, J=16 HZ, 1H, CHH), 5.71 (dd, J=4.5, 10.3 Hz, 1H, NCH), 6.84-7.01 (m, 3H, Ar), 7.38-7.56 (m, 3H, Ar), 7.85 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 1H, Ar); 13C NMR (CDCl3) δ 14.65, 41.33, 46.27, 52.33, 55.95, 56.00, 65.56, 111.45, 112.28, 119.30, 122.85, 123.85, 128.13, 129.89, 131.80, 132.27, 141.26, 148.88, 149.62, 169.09; Anal Calcd for C20H23NO5S: C, 61.68; H, 5.95; N, 3.60. Found: C, 61.68, H, 6.06; N, 3.62.