Palladium-catalyzed carbonylative synthesis of benzoxazinones from N-(o-bromoaryl)amides using paraformaldehyde as the carbonyl source.

Carbonylation reactions have been widely used in organic synthesis. However, the manipulation of toxic and pressurized carbon monoxide limited their applications in organic laboratories. The search for alternative carbonyl sources as an important method for carbonylative organic synthesis is spreading. Herein, a series of substituted benzoxazinones were synthesized from N-(o-bromoaryl)amides by palladium-catalyzed carbonylation with paraformaldehyde as the carbonyl source, which is inexpensive, stable, and easy to use. Notably, this is the first example of using paraformaldehyde as the CO source in palladium-catalyzed carbonylative synthesis of heterocycles.