Isocarbostyrils. II. The Conversion of 2-Methyl-4-acyl-5-nitroisocarbostyrils to 2-Substituted Indole-4-carboxylic Acids

Abstract

The sulfuric acid catalyzed acylation of 2-methyl-5-nitroisocarbostyril with carboxylic acid anhydrides gave the corresponding 4-acylated derivatives 3, which underwent reductive cyclization to 2-substituted derivatives of 4-methyl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydropyrrolo[4.3.2.de]isoquinolin-5-one (4). Alkaline hydrolysis of the six-membered lactam in 4 was accompanied by a retro-Mannich reaction to produce 2-substituted indole-4-carboxylic acids in about 40 % overall yield from 3.