4-(α-Benzyl-α-hydroxybenzyl) quinazoline (4a) underwent retro-benzoin condensation catalyzed by cyanide ion to give deoxybenzoin (2a) and quinazoline (5a). Similarly, several nitrogen-containing heteroarenes (4, 9, 12, 16-19) having an α-hydroxybenzyl group at the α- position of the nitrogen underwent retro-benzoin type condensation to afford ketones (2) and heteroarenes (5). However, similar reaction of pyrazolopyrimidines (13, 14, 15) having an ...