Synthesis of 2-arylquinoxalines from sulfoxonium ylides in the absence of sacrificial electrophile and base

We report a method for annulation of 1,2-phenylenediamines and aryl sulfoxonium ylides to yield 2-arylquinoxalines. Known conditions often require sacrificial electrophiles, an oxidative solvent (i.e., DMSO), and an overstoichiometric amount of base. Herein conditions including the use of the catalytic amount of Bu4NI and m-xylene solvent to facilitate the formation of 2-arylquinoxalines in good to excellent yields have been developed. Functionalities including halogens, protected phenol, secondary amine groups were tolerant.