Iron Oxide Nanoparticles-Catalyzed Oxidative Cyclization for Synthesis of 2-Substituted Quinazolinones and Benzimidazoles

Hydrothermally synthesized nanoscale iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3) particles catalyzed the one-pot synthesis of 2-aryl-substituted quinazolinones and benzimidazoles from 2-aminobenzamide and 1,2-diaminoarenes with arylmethane via oxidative cyclization. A key advantage of this method is the use of water as a green solvent, enabling the efficient production of quinazolinones and benzimidazoles in excellent yields, without the need for a base, ligand, or toxic metals. This method is a successful and eco-friendly protocol for synthesizing a wide variety of heterocyclic compounds, and the high surface reactivity of the catalyst is probably a contributing factor.