Iodine/potassium iodide catalyst for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated quinazolines via intramolecular cyclization of 2,2,2-trifluoro-N-benzyl-N'-arylacetimidamides.

An efficient and simple protocol for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated quinazolines has been described by I-/KI-promoted oxidative C(sp)-C(sp) bond under the optimal oxidative cyclization reaction conditions. The required 2,2,2-trifluoro-N-benzyl-N'-arylacetimidamides are readily prepared from the corresponding acetimidoyl chlorides and benzylamines under a nucleophilic substitution reaction in the form of in situ. The merits of this protocol are the use of inexpensive molecular iodine, metal-free oxidative coupling and good to excellent yields.