An efficient method for synthesis of 3-arylbenzo[ f]quinoline-1,2-dicarboxylates catalyzed by SnCl.

A wide variety of 3-arylbenzo[ f]quinoline-1,2-dicarboxylates and their dehydro derivatives have been synthesized by one-pot, three-component reaction of an aromatic aldehyde, naphthalene-2-amine, and dimethyl but-2-ynedioate in the presence of SnCl under reflux in acetonitrile. This procedure has several advantages, for example high yield, short reaction time, easy work-up, little pollution, and low price of the catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]