Nickel-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Isocyanide Insertion: Access to Benzimidazoquinazoline Derivatives via a Sequential Double Annulation Cascade (SDAC) Strategy.

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of quinazoline derivatives through nickel-catalyzed ligand-/base-free oxidative isocyanide insertion under aerobic conditions with intramolecular bis-amine nucleophiles has been developed. A one-pot sequential double annulation cascade (SDAC) strategy involving an opening of isatoic anhydride and annulation to benzimidazole and further nickel-catalyzed intramolecular isocyanide insertion has also been demonstrated. The method is operationally simple to implement with a wide variety of substrates and represents a new approach for multiple C-N bond formations.