Central nervous system active compounds. VII. Phthalide synthesis by lithiation of alkoxyaromatics

Abstract

The lithiation of methoxy- and methylenedioxy-bemyl alcohols is described; subsequent reactions with ethyl chloroformate and carbon dioxide to form phthalides have been investigated, and are compared with metallation-carboxylation of alternative substrates. The preparation of phthalideisoquinoline analogues by this method proceeds only in low yields due to the acidity of the benzylic position in the benzylisoquinoline precursor.