Synthesis of structurally constrained 4-quinazolinone derivatives with a tetrahedral C-2 atom present in three rings

The reaction of 2-aminobenzamides with 2-oxocyclopentane-, 2-oxocyclohexane-, and 2-oxocycloheptaneacetic acids esters was found to give 7a,8,9,10-tetrahydrocyclopenta[2,3]pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinazoline-6,12(7H,11H)-diones, 7,7a,8,9,10,11-hexahydro-6H-indolo[1,7a-a]quinazoline-6,13(12H)-diones, and 7a,8,9,10.11,12-hexahydrocyclohepta[2,3]pyrrolol[1,2-a]quinazoline-6,14(7H,13H)-diones, respectively. The relative configuration with the cis-fused butyrolactam and cycloalkane rings was assigned to the prepared compounds on the basis of an X-ray crystallographic study. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.