One-pot synthesis of benzazoles and quinazolinones via iron pentacarbonyl mediated carbonylation of aryl iodides under microwave irradiation

A direct and unconventional method for the synthesis of benzazoles and quinazolinones is discovered by using iron pentacarbonyl as a reducing agent and a carbon monoxide source under microwave irradiation. The reaction of substituted aryl iodides with o-amino/mercapto/hydroxyl nitrobenzenes and o-nitrobenzamides successfully delivered a wide variety of benzazoles and quinazolinones, respectively.