An efficient synthesis of 4-alkyl-2(1H)-quinazolinones and 4-alkyl-2-chloroquinazolines from 1-(2-alkynylphenyl)ureas

An efficient synthesis of 4-alkyl-2(1H)-quinazolinones has been achieved by cyclization of 1-(2-alkynylphenyl)ureas (2 R2 = alkyl) in dichloroethane catalyzed by TfOH. In the case of aryl substitution (2 R2 = aryl), a mixture of quinazolinone tautomers is obtained in dichloroethane with TFA as co-solvent. Chlorination of the resulting mixture affords 4-alkyl-2-chloro-quinazolines as sole products.