An efficient potassium carbonate-catalyzed synthesis of 3- substituted isoindolinones through tandem aldol/cyclization reactions of active methylene compounds with 2-cyanobenzaldehyde is described. The utility of the obtained isoindolinones has been demonstrated through an exploration of the chemical space by employing a series of interesting methodologies that led to diverse, highly functionalized compounds. Among them, a surprisingly straightforward potassium carbonate-catalyzed double tandem reaction led to tricyclic hemiaminal derivatives

The first asymmetric synthesis of 3-amino-substituted isoindolinones was accomplished via cascade hemiaminal-heterocyclization-intramolecular aza-Mannich reaction of amines and 2-formylbenzonitriles using chiral phase transfer conditions (PTC).

for the synthesis of 3‐amino‐substituted isoindolinones