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Methyl 2-bromomethyl-5-methoxybenzoate (75, 5.0 g, 19.3 mmol) was used as raw material and dissolved in methanol in a pressure flask. To this solution was added ammonia/methanol solution (2M, 30 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred at 125°C for 2 hours. After completion of the reaction, the solvent and excess ammonia were removed by distillation under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was ground with hexane/ethyl acetate (1:2 v/v). The solid product was vacuum filtered and dried in air for 2 h to afford 5-methoxy-2,3-dihydroisoindol-1-one (2.51 g, 65% yield) as a light yellow solid. The filtrate was concentrated and purified by silica gel column chromatography (eluent ratio hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol 3:1:0.5) to give an additional 270 mg of the target compound. The overall yield of the combined product was 86%. Mass spectrum (electrospray ionization) m/z 164.1.