Cesium carbonate catalyzed efficient synthesis of quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones using carbon dioxide and 2-aminobenzonitriles

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones derivatives from 2-aminobenzonitriles with carbon dioxide using catalytic amount of cesium carbonate has been developed. 6,7-Dimethoxyquinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione, which is one of the key intermediate for the synthesis of several drugs (Prazosin, Bunazosin and Doxazosin) was synthesized. The effect of different reaction parameters like influences of bases, solvent, temperature, CO2 pressure and reaction time were investigated for the title reaction.