Ring closure reactions with nitriles. II. Formation of pyrrolo[1,2-a] quinazolines and thiazolo[3,2-a] quinazolines

2-Quinazolinepropionic acids have been obtained from the reactions of potassium cyanide with o-carboxy- or o-acyl-3-chloropropionanilides. Some of these compounds have been cyclized to pyrrolo [1,2-a] quinazolines. The reaction of an o-carbethoxy-2-chloroacetanilide with potassium thiocyanate formed a 2-quinazolinylthioacetic acid, which was cyclized to a thiazolo-[3,2-a]quinazoline. A mechanism is presented for the formation of these compounds.