Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan PR 00936.
A simple two-step procedure for the conversion of readily available phthalides to the corresponding benzoxazinones was developed. Initial ring-opening aminolysis to form a primary 2-hydroxymethylbenzamide, followed by reaction with bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodobenzene (BTI) conveniently provided a variety of 4-substituted benzoxazinones.