Synthesis of 5-methylfuro[3,2-c]quinolin-4(5H)-one via palladium-catalysed cyclisation of N-(2-iodophenyl)-N-methyl-3-furamide

A new synthesis of the furo[3,2-c]quinolin-4(5H)-one heterocycle has been developed using a palladium-catalysed cyclisation of N-(2-iodophenyl)-N-methyl-3-furamide. By varying the catalyst, base and solvent, the yield of the cyclisation was optimised. It was found that the use of palladium oxide with potassium acetate in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) with a small amount of tetrabutylammonium chloride gave the highest yield of 5-methylfuro[3,2-c]quinolin-4(5H)-one (9).