Palladium-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation of o-iodoanilines with heterocumulenes: regioselective preparation of 4(3H)-quinazolinone derivatives

A catalyst system comprising palladium acetate-bidentate phosphine is effective for the cyclocarbonylation of o-iodoanilines with heterocumulenes at 70-100 degrees C for 12-24 h to give the corresponding 4(3H)-quinazolinone derivatives in good yields. Utilizing o-iodoaniline with isocyanates, carbodiimides, and ketenimines for the reaction, 2,4-(1H,3H)-quinazolinediones, 2-amino-4(3H)-quinazolinones and 2-alkyl-4(3H)-quinazolinones were obtained, respectively. The nature of the substrates including the electrophilicity of the carbon center of the carbodiimide, and the stability of the ketenimine, influence the product yields of this reaction. Urea-type intermediates are believed to be generated first in situ from the reaction of o-iodoanilines with heterocumulenes, followed by palladium-catalyzed carbonylation and cyclization to yield the products.