Efficient synthesis of substituted quinolines through intramolecular addition of aryl anion to carbonyl carbon

Substituted quinolines were synthesized in three steps from the Boc amides of substituted 2-iodoanilines and alkyl vinyl ketones. This method consists of (1) N-Michael addition of the Boc amide of 2-iodoaniline to alkyl vinyl ketone in the presence of Cs2CO3 in MeCN; (2) I–Mg exchange of the adduct with 3.5 equiv of i-PrMgCl·LiCl, and (3) acid-catalyzed reaction (excess AcCl in EtOH) of the resulting alcohol. Six examples are given with good yields.