Substituted 1, 3-dihydro-2H-isoindoles (2, isoindolines) were prepared and subjected to palladium-catalyzed formate reduction. Alkyl isoindolines were reduced to 4, 5, 6, 7- tetrahydro-2H-isoindoles (1). Only partial reduction was observed for 5-methoxyisoindoline, and 4-methoxy-, 5-carbomethoxy-, amino-, and amidoisoindolines were inert to the reaction. Halogen-substituted isoindolines were dehalogenated and reduced to 4, 5, 6, 7-tetrahydro ...
