Unexpected Insertion of Nitrogen into a C-C Bond: Access to 2,3-Disubstituted Quinazolinone Scaffolds.

A novel, practical, highly efficient, and transition metal free nitrogen insertion reaction for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted quinazolinone derivatives was developed. Diverse functionalized 3-indolinone-2-carboxylates and nitrosoarenes with a wide range of substituted nitrosobenzenes, nitrosopyridines, dibenzofuranyl, or dibenzothienyl nitroso compounds worked smoothly to give 2,3-disubstituted quinazolinone derivatives in good to excellent yields (69-98%). A gram-scale reaction was achieved, and an afloqualone analogue was synthesized under the mild reaction conditions.