Potassium tert-Butoxide Promoted Synthesis of Dihydroquinazolinones.

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 KOtBu. 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.

KOtBu-Promoted Transition-Metal-Free Transamidation of Primary and Tertiary Amides with Amines.

This work discloses transamidation of primary and tertiary amides with a range of aryl, heteroaryl, and aliphatic amines using potassium tert-butoxide. The reaction proceeds at room temperature under transition-metal-free conditions providing secondary amides in high yields. Moreover, reaction of cyclopropyl amine with tertiary amides proceeds with ring-opening to provide a rapid access to enamides.