On the diverse outcomes of base-induced cyclisations of 2-alkynylphenylhydroxamic acids

Base-induced cyclisations of 2-alkynylphenylhydroxamic acids occur by attack of nitrogen onto the alkyne group in either exo or endo fashions to give the corresponding isoindol-1(2H)-ones or 1(2H)-isoquinolinones depending upon the alkyne substituent.