An electrochemically induced C(sp3)–H amination of 2-aminobenzamides with ketones using TBAI as a catalyst was developed, and provided 2-benzoylquinazolin-4(3H)-ones under metal-free conditions. The reaction proceeded using the relatively low-toxicity methanol as the solvent, employed molecular oxygen as the ideal green oxidant in a simple undivided cell, and exhibited high atom economy. The mechanism of this C(sp3)–H amination strategy was concluded to involve generation of an acetophenone radical, and its easy further oxidation to form 2-oxo-2-phenylacetaldehyde.
