Copper-catalyzed tandem oxidative synthesis of quinazolinones from 2-aminobenzonitriles and benzyl alcohols

An efficient and practical copper-catalyzed process for the synthesis of substituted quinazolinones from simple and readily available 2-aminobenzonitriles and benzyl alcohols is described. This method features high functional-group tolerance and could afford a variety of desirable products in good to excellent yields with air as the sole oxidant. Moreover, a possible reaction mechanism is proposed according to the control experiments and reported literature.