A concise construction of 12H-benzo[4,5]thiazolo[2,3-b]quinazolin-12-ones via an unusual TBHP/Na2CO3 promoted cascade oxidative cyclization and interrupted Dimroth rearrangement.

An efficient transition-metal-free cascade reaction has been developed for the facile synthesis of 12H-benzo[4,5]thiazolo[2,3-b]quinazolin-12-one derivatives from commercially available isatins and 2-haloaryl isothiocyanates. A preliminary mechanistic study suggested an interrupted Dimroth rearrangement was the key step for the successful transformation.