Base-Catalyzed Synthesis of Quinazolines in Aqueous Medium

Abstract An alternative green protocol and step economy for the synthesis of quinazoline has been developed. The reaction of readily available 2-aminobenzonitriles with various organometallic reagents led to ortho-aminoaryl N-H ketimine species. The subsequent base catalysed N-C bond formation with various isothiocyanates afforded quinazoline scaffolds in aqueous medium. The salient features of this protocol are use of readily available inexpensive precursors, water as a green environmentally benign solvent, short reaction time, operational simplicity, easy workup procedure and good functional group tolerance.