Urea/Thiourea as Ammonia Surrogate: A Catalyst-Free Synthesis of 2-Substituted 2,3-Dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones/Quinazoline-4(3H)-ones

Urea/thiourea have been identified as an effective ammonia surrogate in the construction of quinazolin-4(3H)-one ring. This strategy afforded a simple and catalyst-free synthesis of 2-substituted 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones and quinazolin-4(3H)-ones via the reaction of isatoic anhydride and aryl aldehydes in the presence of urea or thiourea in ethanol. The reaction proceeded well to afford the quinazolin-4(3H)-one or its dihydro derivative, depending on the nature of carbonyl compounds employed.