Synthesis of dibenzoxepine lactams via a Cu-catalyzed one-pot etherification/aldol condensation cascade reaction: application toward the total synthesis of aristoyagonine.

A general synthesis of dibenzoxepine lactams has been developed using a one-pot Cu-catalyzed etherification/aldol condensation cascade reaction. The reaction of 4-hydroxyisoindolin-1-one with a wide range of 2-bromobenzaldehydes in the presence of a copper catalyst provided various aristoyagonine derivatives in good yields.