Ring forming reactions of imines of 2-aminobenzaldehyde and related compounds.

By addition of organometallic reagents to 2-aminobenzonitriles followed by quenching with suitable electrophiles (acyl halides, aldehydes and ketones), several types of 6-membered benzofused aromatic and non-aromatic nitrogen heterocycles could be obtained. Rearrangements leading to 1,2-dihydro-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-ones and preparation of various quinazolines are described.