Isocarbostyrils. I. Electrophilic Substitution Reactions

Abstract

The electrophilic substitution of N-alkylated isocarbostyrils was examined in considerable detail. Bromination, acylation, nitration, and acid-catalyzed condensation with formaldehyde occurred exclusively at C-4 under relatively mild conditions. The acylation of isocarbostyrils has heretofore not been reported.The bromination of 2-methyl-5-nitroisocarbostyril in aqueous acetic acid gave 2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-3-hydroxy-4-bromo-5-nitroisocarbostyril (7) of unknown stereochemistry, as the sole product. When heated above its melting point, 7 lost the elements of water to give the "normal" product of bromination 8.In aqueous acetic acid, excess bromine was shown to convert isocarbostyrils to the corresponding 3,4-dihydro-3-hydroxy-4,4-dibromo derivatives whose structures were supported by spectral and degradative evidence.