Old Dye Safranine As an Organic Photocatalyst for the Synthesis of Substituted Quinazolinones

Safranine-catalyzed oxidative cyclization reaction of substituted 2-aminobenzamides and aldehydes utilizing oxygen as a green oxidant under visible light conditions at room temperature has been developed. Good to excellent yields of the desired quinazolinone products were achieved. Furthermore, the presented procedure illustrates the applicability of gram scale reactions. Safranine-catalyzed oxidative cyclization reaction of substituted 2-aminobenzamides and aldehydes to afford quinazolinone products.