One pot imino Diels–Alder reaction for the synthesis of 3-aryl-3,4-dihydrobenzo[f]quinoline derivatives catalyzed by antimony trichloride

An one pot simple and efficient approach toward the synthesis of dialkyl-3-aryl-3,4-dihydrobenzo[f]quinoline-1,2-dicarboxylate and its dehydro derivatives have been developed through the three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, 2-naphthylamine, and but-2-ynedioate catalyzed by SbCl3 under reflux in acetonitrile in good to excellent yields.