γ-Fe2O3–activated carbon: an efficient nano-catalyst for the synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones under solvent free conditions

2,3-Dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones are an important class of heterocycles with a wide range of pharmacological and biological activities. A number of synthetic methods toprepare these compounds have been described in the past few years[1-2]. Herein we report an efficient and environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazoline-4(1H)-one derivatives using . γ-Fe2O3–activated carbon as a nanocomposite catalyst. 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one derivatives can obtainedfrom condensation of isatoic anhydride, aromatic aldehydes and ammonium acetate in good yields. The catalyst can be reused without losing its activity. The reaction completed at 105 oC within 10-40 min with yields of 76-88%. Shorter reaction times and higher yields were chieved under under solvent-free conditions