Synthesis of 3-sulfonylisoindolin-1-ones from olefinic amides and sodium sulfinates electrooxidative tandem cyclization.

Sulfonyl groups are motifs that are widely found in biologically active compounds and drug molecules, many isolated natural products as well as pharmaceuticals contain sulfonyl groups. Herein, we present the synthesis of sulfonyl-substituted isoindolones by a electrochemical oxidative radical cascade cycloaddition reaction of olefinic amides with sodium sulfite under oxidant- and catalyst-free conditions. Various olefinic amides and sodium sulfinates were compatible and gave the desired products in yields up to 99%.