A highly diastereoselective method for the synthesis of 3-substituted isoin
dolin-1-ones has been developed through application of a tricyclic lactam s
ubstrate as an N-acyliminium ion precursor. Ring-opening of the tricyclic l
actam with triethylsilane as hydride source generates the targets with up t
o exclusive levels of diastereoselectivity. This approach compliments that
reported in the preceding paper. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.