Catalytic application of task specific ionic liquid on the synthesis of benzoquinazolinone derivatives by a multicomponent reaction

Benzoquinazolin-2-one derivatives were synthesized by using a catalytic amount of task specific ionic liquid, [1-methyl-3-(4-sulfobutyl)imidazolium-4-methylbenzenesulfonate] through a one-pot multicomponent Biginelli reaction of α-tetralone, aldehyde, and urea/thiourea in excellent yields within a short reaction time. Mechanism studies suggest that the reaction proceeds through iminium intermediate and C2-H of the TSIL plays a major role on its catalytic activity. The catalyst has been reused four times without any significant loss in catalytic activity. Large scale reaction by using this TSIL suggests the applicability of this methodology for bulk synthesis of quinazolinone derivatives.