About the intermediacy of 1,2-dihydroquinazolinium salts in the Friedländer–Borsche synthesis of quinolinium salts in acidic medium

Spontaneously or under various heating conditions, 2-alkyl- or 2-aryl-(iminoalkyl)benzenamines react with ketones and triflic acid (1:1:1) to give quinolinium salts. When working under milder thermal conditions, intermediate 1,2-dihydroquinazolinium derivatives can be isolated or detected in solution but decompose upon standing or heating to give the corresponding quinolinium salts.