Selective Synthesis of Isoquinolin-3-one Derivatives Combining Pd-Catalysed Aromatic Alkylation/Vinylation with Addition Reactions: The Beneficial Effect of Water

The three-component, palladium/norbornene-catalysed reaction of 1, haloamides 2 and properly substituted olefins 3 performed in DMF/water at 80 degrees C selectively gave 5 and 6 through three- and four-bond-forming reactions, respeclively. The presence of water was crucial to obtain products in fair to good yields.