The titled compounds 20, 21, and 22 have been prepared in modest yields by a two-step reaction involving first the reaction of bromoarenes 3, 7, and 8 with lithioalkyl-and lithioarylacetonitriles under aryne-forming conditions. The cyano products 10, 14. and 16 so formed were then converted to the corresponding isochroman-3-ones by acidic hydrolysis.