Gold(III)-Catalyzed Selective Cyclization of Alkynyl Quinazolinone-Tethered Pyrroles: Synthesis of Fused Quinazolinone Scaffolds

A series of 1,2- and 2,3-fused quinazolinones have been synthesized in good to excellent yields through gold-catalyzed selective hydroarylations of alkynyl quinazolinone-tethered pyrroles. The studies revealed that 1,2-fused quinazolinones were obtained through a 1,3-rearrangement and sequential 6-exo-trig cyclization of N1-alkynyl quinazolinone-tethered pyrroles, while N3-alkynyl quinazolinone-tethered pyrroles went through 6-exo-dig or 7-endo-dig cyclizations directly to afford 2,3-fused quinazolinones. The fused quinazolinones could be prepared at gram scale in three steps from commercial ortho-aminobenzamide.