Facile synthesis of fluorine-containing 1,10-phenanthrolines by the pyridine-ring formation reaction of N-propargyl-5,7-bis(trifluoroacetyl)-8-quinolylamine with amines: isolation of the intermediates 1,4-dihydro-1,10-phenanthrolin-4-ols

Novel fluorine-containing 1,10-phenanthrolines having dialkyl-, alkyl, and arylaminomethyl substituents at the 3-position were easily synthesized in moderate yields by the pyridine-ring formation reaction of N-propargyl-5,7-bis(trifluoroacetyl)-8-quinolylamine with various amines. Unexpectedly, the reactive intermediates 1,4-dihydro-1,10-phenanthrolin-4-ols were isolated for the first time in the reactions with dialkylamines.