Auto-Tandem Catalysis with Ruthenium: From o-Aminobenzamides and Allylic Alcohols to Quinazolinones via Redox Isomerization/Acceptorless Dehydrogenation

A strategy for the synthesis of quinazolinones via Ru-catalyzed redox isomerization/acceptorless dehydrogenation was proposed and accomplished. In the presence of a commercially available [(p-cymene)Cl-2](2), a range of desirable products were obtained with o-aminobenzamides and allylic alcohols as starting materials in moderate to high yields. This strategy is attractive due to high atom efficiency, and minimal consumption of chemicals and energy.