Electrochemical Synthesis of 2-Substituted Quinazolinones from Primary Benzylic C(sp3)–H bonds and 2-Aminobenzamides

Abstract

An electrochemical promoted primary benzylic C(sp3)–H directive dehydrogenative cascade cyclization for the synthesis of quinazolinones has been developed under undivided electrolytic conditions. In this protocol, neither external chemical oxidants nor transition-metal catalysts are needed, and a wide range of substituted quinazolinones could be obtained from simple methyl arenes and 2-aminobenzamides in high efficiencies. The reaction mechanism was investigated by a series of control experiments and CV studies, which indicated that the reaction might have gone through an aryl radical cation pathway.