Potassium <i>tert</i>-Butoxide Promoted Synthesis of Dihydroquinazolinones

Abstract

We herein report an efficient synthetic protocol to access heterocyclic dihydroquinazolinones by a transition-metal-free process, involving the reaction of 2-aminobenzonitriles with aldehydes in the presence of KO^<i>t</i>Bu. The method is compatible with aromatic ketones providing 2,2-disubstituted dihydroquinazolinones in high yields. This reaction proceeds feasibly at room temperature and features a broad substrate scope and tolerance to a range of functional groups. The mechanism follows a radical pathway.