It has been found that 2-bromo-1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene on sequential treatment with n-BuLi and 2 equiv of the same or different aryl(hetaryl) cyanide as a result of [2 + 2 + 2] nucleophilic cascade annulation produces 10-dimethylaminobenzo[h]quinazolines, as yet unknown NMe2/-N= analogues of the proton sponge. It is even more convenient to use preliminarily prepared 2-ketimino-1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalenes as starting material. The substitution of both peri-NMe2 groups furnishing quinazolino[7,8-h]quinazoline derivatives is also possible. The process is remarkable by surprisingly mild nucleophilic displacement of an unactivated aromatic NMe2 group.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2872-2875
Number of pages4
JournalOrganic Letters
Volume18
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 17 Jun 2016

    Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry

ID: 41270767