Synthesis of Isoxazole and 1,2,3-Triazole Isoindole Derivatives via Silver- and Copper-Catalyzed 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reaction.

The CuI- or Ag$_2$CO$_3$-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of propargyl-substituted dihydroisoindolin-1-one (3) with arylnitrile oxides 1a-d (Ar = Ph, p-MeC$_6$H$_4$, p-MeOC$_6$H$_4$, p-ClC$_6$H$_4$) produces in good yields novel 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles 4 of the ethyl-2-benzyl-3-oxo-1-((3-arylisoxazol-5yl)methyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindole-1-carboxylate type. With aryl azides 2a-d (Ar = Ph, p-MeC$_6$H$_4$, p-OMeC$_6$H$_4$, p-ClC$_6$H$_4$), a series of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles 6 (ethyl-2-benzyl-3-oxo-1-((1-aryl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindole-1-carboxylates) was obtained. The reactions proceed in a regioselective manner affording exclusively racemic adducts 4 and 6. Compared to the uncatalyzed cycloaddition, the yields are significantly improved in the presence of CuI as catalyst, without alteration of the selectivity. The regio- and stereochemistry of the cycloadducts has been corroborated by an X-ray diffraction study of 4a, and in the case of 6a by XH-correlation and HMBC spectra.