Synthesis of quinazolines and tetrahydroquinazolines: copper-catalyzed tandem reactions of 2-bromobenzyl bromides with aldehydes and aqueous ammonia or amines.

An efficient synthesis of diversely substituted quinazolines and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolines through copper-catalyzed tandem reactions of the readily available 2-bromobenzyl bromides, aldehydes, and aqueous ammonia or amines has been developed. By using ammonia and simple aliphatic amines as the nitrogen source, the present method provides a versatile and practical protocol for the synthesis of quinazolines and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolines.