α-Angelica Lactone in a New Role: Facile Access to N-Aryl Tetrahydroisoquinolinones and Isoindolinones via Organocatalytic α-CH2 Oxygenation

A method for the direct oxidation of various N-aryl tetrahydroisoquinolines and isoindolines to the corresponding lactams using α-angelica lactone as a catalyst was developed. The utility of the method was further demonstrated by synthesis of indoprofen and indobufen.