Nickel‐Catalyzed Annulation of 2′‐Aminochalcones: A Simplistic Access to 4‐Styryl and 2,4‐Distyrylquinolines.

A nickel catalyzed straightforward method for the construction of functionalized 4‐styrylquinolines via Friedlander coupling of 2′‐aminochalcones with 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds or cyclic ketones is described. This method offers both cycloalkyl and styryrl groups fused quinoline skeleton in one pot. Further, 4‐styrylquinolines on treatment with aryl aldehydes gave corresponding 2,4‐distyrylquinolines in highly regioselective manner. A nickel catalyzed annulation of 2'‐aminochalcones with mono and di‐keto compounds to access 4‐styrylquinolines by Friedlander strategy and its application to give 2,4‐distyrylquinolines is described in high yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]