An efficient approach for the formation of biologically important indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,12-diones
in good to moderate yields has been accomplished from 2-haloacetophenones and anthranilamides
employing I2/DMSO/CuI under aerobic conditions. This tandem process is believed to proceed via
iodination of 2-haloacetophenone followed by Kornblum oxidation and copper-catalyzed intramolecular
N-arylation. This method adopts five reactions such as α-halogenation, oxidation, condensation,
aromatization and heteroaryl coupling in a single step which makes it as an attractive and useful for
the synthesis of indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,12-diones.
