A New Way to 2,3,4-Trisubstituted Benzo[]quinolines: Synthesis, Consecutive Reactions and Cellular Activities †.

The reaction of mercaptoacetic acid esters with pentachloro-2-nitro-1,3-butadiene provides the appropriate precursors for the synthesis of 2,3,4-trisubstituted benzo[]quinolines. These heterocycles are easily accessible via a single-step reaction with naphthalen-1-amine or anthracen-1-amine as the precursor. Due to the steric bulk and high electron density ring, the ring closure of benzo[]quinolines takes place exclusively.