3-(Hetarylamino)- and 3-[(hetarylmethyl)amino]-isoquinolin-1(2H)-ones

The reaction of 2-(cyanomethyl)benzoic acid with amines RNH2 (R = Ar, Het, CH2Ar, CH2Het) leads to the formation of the corresponding 3-NHR-isoquinolin-1(2H)-ones. When R = CH2Ar and CH2Het, there is a side reaction involving hydrolysis of the hydrolytically-unstable intermediates, derivatives of 2-(2-amino-2-iminoethyl)benzoic acid, leading to 2-R-isoquinoline-1,3(2H,4H)-diones.