Preparation of 2‐phenyl‐2‐hydroxymethyl‐4‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinazoline and 2‐methyl‐4‐oxo‐3,4‐dihydroquinazoline derivatives formation

The cyclization of phenacyl anthranilate has been studied with the aim to develop the synthesis of 2‐(2′‐aminophenyl)‐4‐phenyloxazole. However, a different course of the reaction than expected was observed. 2‐Phenyl‐2‐hydroxymethyl‐4‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinazoline ( 3a ) was formed by the reaction of phenacyl anthranilate ( 2 ) with ammonium acetate under various conditions. 3‐Hydroxy‐2‐phenyl‐4(1H)‐quinolinone ( 4 ) arose by heating compound 3a in acetic acid. The same compound was obtained by melting compound 3a , but the yield was lower. Different types of products resulted in the reaction of compound 3a with acetic anhydride. Under mild conditions acetylated products 2‐acetoxymethyl‐2‐phenyl‐4‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinazoline ( 7a ) and 2‐acetoxymethyl‐3‐acetyl‐2‐phenyl‐4‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinazoline ( 8 ) were prepared. If the reaction was carried out under reflux of the reaction mixture, molecular rearrangement took place to give cis and trans 2‐methyl‐4‐oxo‐3‐(1‐phenyl‐2‐acetoxy)vinyl‐3,4‐dihydroquinazolines ( 9a and 9b ). All prepared compounds have been characterised by their ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectra, IR spectra and MS.