Visible-light induced copper(i)-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of o-aminobenzamides with methanol and ethanol via HAT.

The use of the in situ generated ligand-copper superoxo complex absorbing light energy to activate the alpha C(sp)-H of MeOH and EtOH via the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process for the synthesis of quinazolinones by oxidative cyclization of alcohols with o-aminobenzamide has been investigated. The synthetic utility of this protocol offers an efficient synthesis of a quinazolinone intermediate for erlotinb (anti-cancer agent) and 30 examples were reported.