Method for producing benzo annelated heterocycles

Process for the preparation of benzo-fused heterocycles of general formula I:

• in which
• X is S, O or NH,
• R1 is CN, NO2, Ac, COAr, COOAr, COOH, COOA or CONR4R5,
• R2 and R3 independently of one another are each H, A, NO2, CN, OH, OA or Ac,
• R4 and R5 independently of one another are each H, A, Ar or Ac, or
• R4 and R5 together are —(CH2)—(CH2)n—(CH2)—,
• A is alkyl having 1-6 C atoms,
• Ac is acyl having 1-6 C atoms,
• Ar is unsubstituted phenyl or phenyl substituted by A, NO2, CN, OH or OA, and
• n is 2, 3 or 4,
• by reacting tetrahydrobenzo-fused heterocycles of formula II:
• in which
• X is S, O or NH,
• R1 is CN, NO2, Ac, COAr, COOAr, COOH, COOA or CONR4R5,
• R2 and R3 independently of one another are each H, A, NO2, CN, OH, OA or Ac,
• R4 and R5 independently of one another are each H, A, Ar or Ac, or
• R4 and R5 together are —(CH2)—(CH2)—(CH2)—,
• A is alkyl having 1-6 C atoms,
• Ac is acyl having 1-6 C atoms,
• Ar is unsubstituted phenyl or phenyl substituted by A, NO2, CN, OH or OA, and
• n is 2, 3 or 4,
• with a catalytic amount of a noble metal catalyst in the presence of a hydrogen acceptor and then deacylating the acylated amino group by the addition of an amine.