Intramolecular transaminations of enaminones: a synthesis of fused, polycyclic, N-aryl pyridones

2-Arylamino-3-pyridinecarbonyl chlorides acylated the β-carbon atoms of enamines, and the resulting enaminones cyclized to give a series of fused polycyclic N-aryl pyridones. The series included 10-(3-chlorophenyl)-6,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[b][1,8]naphthyridin-5(7H)-one (Sch 40120), an antipsoriatic agent.