Electrochemistry-Enabled Copper-Catalyzed Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohols for the Preparation of Quinazolinones in Water

Quinazolinone is one of the most important nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound, which is widely found in numerous natural products and synthetic drugs. Quinazolinone derivatives were synthesized by one-pot co-oxidation of benzyl alcohol with CuCl2 and electric current in aqueous phase. The reaction provides an efficient protocol to a series of quinazolinones derivatives in good to high yields. This synthesis process features convenient operation and environmental friendliness, which make it a promising method for the preparation of quinazolinone derivatives insteading of expensive and toxic oxidants with electric current.