Alkylation of quinoline and isoquinoline in the presence of LiCl

EEDQ and EEDI generated in situ by the reaction of quinoline and isoquinoline with diethyl pyrocarbonate was treated with alkylating reagents having an activated carbon such as diethyl malonate, ethyl acetoacetate etc. in the presence of 0.5 equiv of LiCl in acetonitrile to provide the corresponding alkyl dihydroquinolines and alkyl dihydroisoquinolines in high yields.