A concise synthesis of fluorine-containing benzo[h]quinolines and benzo[h]quinolones by selective pyridine and pyridinone rings formation reactions of N-propargyl-2,4-bis(trifluoroacetyl)-l-naphthylamine with various active methylene compounds

Article abstract of DOI:10.3987/COM-09-11864

N-Propargyl-2,4-bis(trifluoroacetyl)-l-naphthylamine (3) underwent nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring-formation reactions with a variety of active methylene compounds in the presence of sodium alkoxides. This annulation reactions with dialkyl malonates were highly dependent on reaction temperature to give selectively the corresponding fluorine-containing benzo[h]quinolines (5) at high temperature and 1H-benzo[h]quinolin-2-ones (7 and 8) at low temperature. Furthermore, changing the electron-withdrawing groups of active methylene compounds led to alternation of the reactive site wherein the reagents attack first and to the formation of the different nitrogen-containing heterocyclic systems, pyridine (9), dihydropyridine (11 and 13) and pyridone (12).

Full text of DOI:10.3987/COM-09-11864

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 2, 2010
357
HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 2, 2010, pp. 357 - 370. © The Japan Institute of Heterocyclic Chemistry
Received, 29th October, 2009, Accepted, 26th November, 2009, Published online, 27th November, 2009
DOI: 10.3987/COM-09-11864
A
CONCISE
SYNTHESIS
OF
FLUORINE-CONTAINING
BENZO[h]QUINOLINES AND BENZO[h]QUINOLONES BY SELECTIVE
PYRIDINE AND PYRIDINONE RINGS FORMATION REACTIONS OF
N-PROPARGYL-2,4-BIS(TRIFLUOROACETYL)-1-NAPHTHYLAMINE
WITH VARIOUS ACTIVE METHYLENE COMPOUNDS
Etsuji Okada,a,* Dai Shibata,b Norikado Tsukushi,b Masato Dohura,b Norio
Ota, b Satoru Adachi, a and Maurice Médebiellec
aDepartment of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of
Engineering, Kobe University, Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
E-mail: okaetsu@kobe-u.ac.jp
bGraduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University, Rokkodai-cho,
Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
cUniversité de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Institut de
Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires (ICBMS), Laboratoire de
Synthése de Biomolécules (LSB), UMR 5246 CNRS-UCBL-INSA Lyon-CPE
Lyon, 43 Bd Novembre, Villeurbanne 69622, France
Abstract – N-Propargyl-2,4-bis(trifluoroacetyl)-1-naphthylamine (3) underwent
nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring-formation reactions with a variety of active
methylene compounds in the presence of sodium alkoxides. This annulation
reactions with dialkyl malonates were highly dependent on reaction temperature
to give selectively the corresponding fluorine-containing benzo[h]quinolines (5)
at high temperature and 1H-benzo[h]quinolin-2-ones (7 and 8) at low temperature.
Furthermore, changing the electron-withdrawing groups of active methylene
compounds led to alternation of the reactive site wherein the reagents attack first
and to the formation of the different nitrogen-containing heterocyclic systems,
pyridine (9), dihydropyridine (11 and 13) and pyridone (12).
INTRODUCTION
Benzo[h]quinoline and the related derivatives are valuable heterocyclic systems, constituting the structure

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 2, 2010
of many natural products, for example, fagaronine and nitidine, both isolated from trees belonging to the
genus Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae).1 And some benzo[h]quinoline derivatives have interesting biological
activities such as antimicrobial agents,2a,c,d antitumor drugs2b,e,f and antimalarial activity.4c They are also
known to be applicable to potent and selective 5-reductase inhibitors.3 Recently, the development of
new methodologies for the synthesis of many kinds of fluorine-containing heterocycles has received
much attention, since these compounds are now widely recognized as significant organic materials due to
their interesting biological activities for their potential applications in medicinal and agricultural scientific
fields.4
We have previously reported that N,N-dimethyl-2,4-bis(trifluoroacetyl)-1-naphthylamine (1) undergoes
novel aromatic nucleophilic substitution with various amines, thiols and alcohols to give the
corresponding N-N, N-S, and N-O exchanged products (2) in excellent yields, respectively (Scheme 1).5
Furthermore, we succeeded in applying this type of aromatic nucleophilic substitution and the subsequent
cyclizations to the simple syntheses of various naphthalene-fused pyrroles, pyrazoles, quinolines,
thiophenes, pyrans, thiopyrans, and diazepines bearing CF3 groups.6 In the course of investigating the
synthesis of fluorine-containing heterocycles, it was found that various N-, S- and O-nucleophiles attack
selectively the terminal acetylenic carbon of N-propargyl-2,4-bis(trifluoroacetyl)-1-naphthylamine (3),
which was prepared by N-N exchange reaction of 1 with propargylamine, and mediate a novel
pyridine-ring formation reaction to give the corresponding benzo[h]quinolines (4) having a CF3 group at
the 4-position in excellent yields (Scheme 1).7
NMe2
COCF3
Nu
COCF3
NuH
Nu = RR'N, RS, RO
COCF3
COCF3
1
2
rt, 2 h
in MeCN
H2N
(1.2 eq)
82%
HN
N
Nu
CF3
COCF3
NuH
Nu = RR'N, RS, RO
COCF3
COCF3
3
4
Scheme 1

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 2, 2010
359
In this situation, we have very recently reported that a facile and selective synthetic method for
fluorine-containing benzo[h]quinolines (5 and 6) and 1H-benzo[h]quinolones (7 and 8) by the ring
closure reaction of 3 with C-nucleophiles, dialkyl malonates in the presence of sodium alkoxides, which
was very dependent on reaction temperature.8
Herein we report a full account of our systematic studies on this type of cyclization reaction including a
detailed investigation and an extension of the remarkable reactivity of 3 with other C-nucleophiles,
β-diketones, β-ketoesters, methyl cyanoacetate, and malononitrile. The present reactions provide the
facile and workable methods for construction of diverse CF3-containing benzo[h]quinolines and
benzo[h]quinolones, which are not easily obtained by other methods.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
We first examined the pyridine-ring formation reaction of 3 with dialkyl malonates (Figure 1) and the
results are summarized in Table 1. The reaction of 3 with dimethyl malonate (3 equiv) proceeded
cleanly in the presence of sodium methoxide (1 equiv) in refluxing methanol to afford the corresponding
fluorine-containing benzo[h]quinoline (5a) having a di(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl group at the 3-position in
83% yield (entry 1). The same type of reaction with diethyl malonate in ethanol was completed within 5
min at reflux temperature to give the desired benzo[h]quinoline (5b) in 77% yield (entry 4). Under the
almost same conditions, reaction of 3 with diisopropyl malonate provided a mixture of benzo[h]quinoline
(5c) and its reduced product (6) in 43% and 44% yields, respectively (entry 7). Separation of the
mixtures into 5c and 6 was easily performed by silica gel column chromatography. In the cases of less
CO2R2
CO2Pr-i
CO2Pr-i
N
N
R1
CO2R2
CF3
CF3
COCF3
HO CHCF3
5a-e
6
O
O
R1 R2
5,7,8
CO2R2
CO2R2
CF3
N
N
a
b
c
d
e
H
H
H
H
Me
Et
OH
CF3
i-Pr
t-Bu
COCF3
COCF3
Me Et
7a-c
8a-c
Figure 1

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 2, 2010
Table 1 Reaction of N-Propargyl-2,4-bis(trifluoroacetyl)-1-naphthylamine 3 with Dialkyl Malonates
[R1CH(CO2R2)2]
Entry
R1CH(CO2R2)2
Na
(eq)
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
Solvent
Temp.
(°C)
reflux (65)
30
Time
(h)
0.5
48
Product
Yielda)
(%)
83
45 / 44
13 / 11b)
77
46 / 46
42 / 51
43 / 44
35 / 53
100
R1
H
R2
(eq)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Me
Me
Me
Et
3
3
5
3
3
5
3
3
5
3
3
MeOH
MeOH
MeOH
EtOH
EtOH
EtOH
i-PrOH
i-PrOH
i-PrOH
t-BuOH
EtOH
5a
5a / 8a
7a / 8a
H
H
H
0
72
reflux (78)
30
5 min 5b
18
72
H
Et
5b / 8b
7b / 8b
H
Et
0
H
H
H
H
i-Pr
i-Pr
i-Pr
t-Bu
Et
reflux (82)
5 min 5c / 6
30
-20
30
2
72
18
24
5c / 7c
7c
5d
10
11
75
95
Me
30
5e
a) Isolated yields.
b) 75% of substrate 3 was recovered.
reactive di-t-butyl malonate and diethyl methylmalonate, heating at lower temperature (30 °C) and for
longer time (18 h) was required for completion of the reaction without decomposition products and
afforded benzo[h]quinolines (5d and 5e) in 75% and 95% yields, respectively (entries 10 and 11).
It is noteworthy that as the reaction temperature was lowered, the reaction pathway changed dramatically
(entries 3, 6, and 9).
Reaction of
3
with dimethyl malonate at
0
°C yielded
product,
4-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-benzo[h]quinolin-2-one
(7a) and its dehydrated
1H-benzo[h]quinolin-2-one (8a), in 13% and 11% yields, respectively, accompanied a recovery of 75%
substrate without any formation of benzo[h]quinoline (5b) (entry 3). In the same way, 3 reacted with
diethyl malonate to afford 7b and 8b in 42% and 51% yields, respectively (entry 6). Moreover 3
underwent the lactam ring formation with diisopropyl malonate at -20 °C to give exclusively
4-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-benzo[h]quinolin-2-one (7c) quantitatively (entry 9). When the reactions
were conducted at 30 °C, the mixture of benzo[h]quinolines (5) and benzo[h]quinolones (7 or 8) were
obtained expectedly in high combined yields (entries 2, 5, and 8).
O
O
CO2Pr-i
CO2Pr-i
N
N
SOCl2 (2 eq)
pyridine (2 eq)
OH
CF3
CF3
rt, 2 h in CH2Cl2
COCF3
COCF3
7c
8c
89%
Scheme 2

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 2, 2010
361
Di(isopropoxycarbonyl) derivative (7c) was hard to be dehydrated compared to di(methoxycarbonyl)
derivative (7a) and di(ethoxycarbonyl) derivative (7b). Therefore, conversion of 7c into the
corresponding dehydrated product (8c) was achieved by formal dehydration, namely HO-Cl exchange and
subsequent dehydrochlorination, with the use of thionyl chloride in the presence of pyridine (Scheme 2).
Possible mechanistic pathways for the formation of benzo[h]quinolines (5) and
1H-benzo[h]quinolin-2-ones (7 and 8) are depicted in Scheme 3. At high temperature, both the addition
of enolates (carbanions) from dialkyl malonates to the terminal acetylenic carbon and the attack of
carbonyl carbon onto the internal acetylenic carbon occur concertedly to give the corresponding
cyclization product, which leads to 5 via 1,3-H shift and the subsequent departure of hydroxide ion (Path
A). On the other hand, at low temperature, the addition of enolates takes place on the carbonyl carbon of
trifluoroacetyl group at the 2-position, followed by the intramolecular ester-amide exchange reaction
(lactam ring formation) to afford 7 leading to 8 by dehydration (Path B). It is not certain at present why
the interesting temperature-dependent chemoselectivity was clearly observed in this system. Further
studies are underway to elucidate definitely the mechanism.
OR
O
CO2R
O
CO2R
CO2R
N
HN
HN
N
HN
H
O
COCF3
CH(CO2R)2
CH(CO2R)2
CF3
CF3
Path A
Path B
COCF3
COCF3
COCF3
3
RO
1,3-H shift
O
at high temperature
CO2R
CO2R
CO2R
OH
N
O
HN
O
Path A
CF3
CF3
CF3
CH(CO2R)2
COCF3
COCF3
Path B
at low temperature
COCF3
7
3
H2O
OH
O
CO2R
CO2R
CO2R
CF3
N
CF3
COCF3
COCF3
8
5
Scheme 3

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 2, 2010
COR3(R4)
HN
N
N
R3COCH2COR4
COCF3
EtONa
CF3
CF3
30 ℃, 24 h in EtOH
COCF3
COCF3
COCF3
3
9a,b
10
Scheme 4
Table 2 Reaction of N-Propargyl-2,4-bis(trifluoroacetyl)-1-naphthylamine 3 with β-Diketones
Entry
R3COCH2COR4
Na
(eq)
1
0.25
1
Product
Yielda)
(%)
R3
Me
Me
Ph
R4
(eq)
1
2
3
4
Me
Me
Ph
Ph
1
3
1
1
9a
10
9b
9a / 9b
75
30b)
87c)
Me
1
27 / 59d)
a) Isolated yields.
b) 20% of substrate 3 was recovered.
c) Ether 4 (Nu = OEt in Scheme 1) was obtained in 13%.
d) Ether 4 (Nu = OEt in Scheme 1) was obtained in 11%.
Next, we attempted to carry out the present cyclization using β-diketones (Scheme 4, Table 2). The
pyridine-ring formation reaction of 3 with acetyl acetone (1 equiv) and the subsequent deacetylation took
place cleanly in the presence of sodium ethoxide (1 equiv) in ethanol at 30 °C within 24 h to afford the
novel fluorine-containing 3-acetylethylbenzo[h]quinoline (9a) having a 3-oxobutyl group at the
3-position in 75% yield (entry 1). Interestingly, when we increased the amount of acetylacetone (3
equiv) and decreased that of sodium ethoxide (0.25 equiv), allene derivative (10) was obtained as a major
product (entry 2). The mechanism of the generation of 10 is not yet clarified. Dibenzoylmethane also
underwent the pyridine-ring formation and the subsequent debenzoylation under the similar conditions for
Me
CO2Me
OH
COMe
N
N
MeCOCH2CO2Me (1 eq)
MeONa (1 eq)
CO2Me
CF3
CF3
3
30 ℃, 24 h in MeOH
COCF3
COCF3
5f
11
76%
13%
Scheme 5

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 2, 2010
363
acetylacetone (entry 1), to give the corresponding benzoylethylbenzo[h]quinoline (9b) (entry 3).
Besides, in the reaction with unsymmetrical β-diketones, benzoylacetone, both 9a (27%) and 9b (59%)
were produced (entry 4).
Furthermore, the present reactions were applied to other active methylene compounds such as
β-ketoesters, methyl cyanoacetate, and malononitrile. The cyclization of 3 with methyl acetoacetate
proceeded easily in the presence of sodium methoxide in methanol to produce
1-propargyl-1,4-dihydrobenzo[h]quinoline (11) as a major product together with benzo[h]quinoline (5f)
(Scheme 5). Treatment of methyl cyanoacetate with 3 in the presence of sodium methoxide at 30 °C
resulted in quantitative conversion to 3-cyano-1-propargylbenzo[h]quinolone (12) (Scheme 6). When
we conducted the reaction of 3 with malononitrile in the presence of sodium ethoxide at 0 °C, the
cyclization underwent through the similar reaction route to afford 2-amino-3-cyano-1-propargyl-
1,4-dihydrobenzo[h]quinoline (13), which was successively converted to 12 by the hydrolysis using an
aqueous solution of 6N HCl.
O
CN
N
NCCH2CO2Me (1 eq)
MeONa (1 eq)
CF3
3
30 ℃, 24 h in MeOH
COCF3
12
100%
6N HCl
rt, 4 h in THF
94%
NH2
CN
N
CH2(CN)2 (3 eq)
OH
EtONa (3 eq)
CF3
0 ℃, 8 h in EtOH
COCF3
13
77%
Scheme 6
In conclusion, we succeeded in extending the ring formation reactions of 3 with N-, S-, and
O-nucleophiles to those with C-nucleophiles such as various active methylene compounds, dialkyl
malonates, β-diketones, β-ketoesters, methyl cyanoacetate, and malononitrile, and in providing an

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 2, 2010
efficient and selective synthetic method for fluorine-containing benzo[h]quinolines and
1H-benzo[h]quinolin-2-ones, which are not easily accessible by other methods. We found the highly
temperature-dependent alternation of the reactive site wherein the reagents attack first on the reaction of 3
with dialkyl malonates. Also, we clarified that the similar chemoselectivity appeared by changing the
electron-withdrawing groups of active methylene compounds, and led to the formation of the different
nitrogen-containing heterocyclic systems, pyridine and pyridone. For detail, the reaction of 3 with
β-diketones proceeded through the Path A, and that with β-ketoesters, methyl cyanoacetate, and
malononitrile underwent through the Path B selectively.
EXPERIMENTAL
Mps were determined on an electrothermal digital melting point apparatus and are uncorrected. 1H
NMR spectra were recorded on JEOL PMX 60SI and Bruker AVANCE500 instruments using TMS as an
internal standard. 13C NMR spectra were obtained with a JEOL FX90Q spectrometer. IR spectra were
taken with JASCO A-302 and PerkinElmer Spectrum ONE spectrophotometers. Microanalyses were
taken with a YANACO CHN-Coder MT-5 analyzer.
Reaction of 3 with Active Methylene Compounds; General Procedure
Method A: At High Temperature
Sodium (3 mmol) and active methylene compounds (9 mmol) were added to alcohols (24 mL) and the
mixture was stirred at room temperature for 15 min. To the solution was added 35a (1.12 g, 3 mmol) and
then it was stirred for 5-30 min at reflux temperature. The reaction was quenched with 1N HCl and the
solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (200 mL), washed
with water (200 mL), and dried over Na2SO4. Evaporation of the solvent gave the crude mixture which
was submitted to column chromatography on silica gel eluting with n-hexane/EtOAc (49:1 - 4:1) to give
5a-c, 6.
Method B: At Low Temperature
Sodium (0.75 - 9 mmol) and active methylene compounds (3 - 15 mmol) were added to alcohols (24 mL)
and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 15 min. To the solution was added 3 (1.12 g, 3
mmol) and then it was stirred at -20 - 30 °C for 2 - 72 h. The reaction was quenched with 1N HCl and
the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (200 mL),
washed with water (200 mL), and dried over Na2SO4. Evaporation of the solvent gave the crude mixture
which was submitted to column chromatography on silica gel eluting with n-hexane/EtOAc (49:1 - 4:1) to
give 5a-e, 7, 8a,b, 9-10 and with benzene/EtOAc (1:0 - 1:1) to give 5f, 11, 13. In the case of methyl
cyanoacetate, evaporation of the solvent gave practically pure 12. In the case of malononitorile,

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 2, 2010
365
quenched with sat. NH4Cl instead of 1N HCl.
Dimethyl 2-(6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethylbenzo[h]quinolin-3-ylmethyl)malonate (5a):
mp 117-118 °C (n-C6H14/CHCl3); 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 9.31 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-7 or 10), 9.05 (s,
1H, H-2), 8.72 (br s, 1H, H-5), 8.55 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-10 or 7), 7.92-7.61 (m, 2H, H-8, H-9),
3.90-3.60 (m, 3H, CH2CH), 3.74 (s, 6H, OCH3); IR (KBr): 1751, 1738, 1710 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for
C22H15F6NO5: C, 54.22; H, 3.10; N, 2.87. Found: C, 54.49; H, 2.83; N, 2.87.
Diethyl 2-(6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethylbenzo[h]quinolin-3-ylmethyl)malonate (5b):
mp 83-84 °C (n-C6H14/CHCl3); 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 9.34 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-7 or 10), 9.07 (s, 1H,
H-2), 8.74 (br s, 1H, H-5), 8.56 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-10 or 7), 7.92-7.62 (m, 2H, H-8, H-9), 4.20 (q,
J = 7.0 Hz, 4H, CH2CH3), 3.80-3.65 (m, 3H, CH2CH), 1.21 (t, J = 7.0 Hz, 6H, CH2CH3); 13C NMR
(CDCl3): δ 182.1 (q, JCF = 34.2 Hz), 168.3, 156.5, 148.0, 133.2 (q, JCF = 29.3 Hz), 131.5, 130.7, 130.4,
128.9, 128.5, 128.2, 127.6, 125.3, 124.9, 124.6 (q, JCF = 277.9 Hz), 119.2, 116.7 (q, JCF = 293.0 Hz), 62.2,
53.5, 31.1, 14.1; IR (KBr): 1733, 1718, 1710 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for C24H19F6NO5: C, 55.93; H, 3.72; N,
2.72. Found: C, 55.86; H, 3.92; N, 2.59.
Diisopropyl
2-(6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethylbenzo[h]quinolin-3-ylmethyl)malonate
1
(5c): mp 111-112 °C (n-C6H14/CHCl3); H NMR (CDCl3): δ 9.22 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-7 or 10),
8.99 (s, 1H, H-2), 8.66 (br s, 1H, H-5), 8.48 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-10 or 7), 7.83-7.55 (m, 2H, H-8,
H-9), 5.01 (hp, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H, OCH), 3.81-3.50 (m, 3H, CH2CH), 1.25 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 6H, CH3), 1.17 (d,
J = 6.0 Hz, 6H, CH3); IR (KBr): 1749, 1727, 1714 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for C26H23F6NO5: C, 57.46; H, 4.27;
N, 2.58. Found: C, 57.37; H, 4.35; N, 2.59.
Di-tert-butyl 2-(6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethylbenzo[h]quinolin-3-ylmethyl)malonate (5d):
1
mp 106-107 °C (n-C6H14); H NMR (CDCl3): δ 9.30 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-7 or 10), 9.08 (s, 1H,
H-2), 8.75 (br s, 1H, H-5), 8.55 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-10 or 7), 7.88-7.60 (m, 2H, H-8, H-9),
3.76-3.47 (m, 3H, CH2CH), 1.41 (s, 18H, CH3); IR (KBr): 1737, 1716, 1706 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for
C28H27F6NO5: C, 58.84; H, 4.76; N, 2.45. Found: C, 59.05; H, 4.72; N, 2.45.
Diethyl 2-methyl-2-(6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethylbenzo[h]quinolin-3-ylmethyl)-
malonate (5e): mp 90-91 °C (n-C6H14/EtOAc); 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 9.22 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-7 or
10), 8.94 (s, 1H, H-2), 8.69 (br s, 1H, H-5), 8.50 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-10 or 7), 7.84-7.54 (m, 2H,
H-8, H-9), 4.21 (q, J = 7.0 Hz, 4H, CH2CH3), 3.79 (q, JHF = 2.0 Hz, 2H, CH2), 1.41 (s, 3H, CH3), 1.24 (t,

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 2, 2010
J = 7.0 Hz, 6H, CH2CH3); IR (KBr): 1732, 1717, 1704 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for C25H21F6NO5: C, 56.72; H,
4.00; N, 2.65. Found: C, 56.70; H, 4.07; N, 2.58.
Diisopropyl 2-(6-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-hydroxyethyl)-4-trifluoromethylbenzo[h]quinolin-3-ylmethyl)-
malonate (6): mp 107-108 °C (n-C6H14/EtOAc); 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 9.23 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-7
or 10), 8.91 (s, 1H, H-2), 8.35 (br s, 1H, H-5), 8.17-7.48 (m, 3H, H-10 or 7, H-8, H-9), 5.88 (q, JHF = 7.0
Hz, 1H, CHCF3), 5.03 (hp, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H, OCH), 4.33-3.21 (br, 1H, OH), 3.72-3.49 (m, 3H, CH2CH),
1.23 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 6H, CH3), 1.15 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 6H, CH3); IR (KBr): 3420, 1745, 1723 cm-1. Anal.
Calcd for C26H25F6NO5: C, 57.25; H, 4.62; N, 2.57. Found: C, 56.96; H, 4.73; N, 2.49.
Methyl 4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-(prop-2-ynyl)-6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2,3,4-
1
tetrahydrobenzo[h]quinoline-3-carboxylate (7a): mp 183-184 °C (n-C6H14); H NMR (CDCl3): δ
8.95-8.68 (m, 1H, H-7), 8.45-8.23 (m, 2H, H-5, H-10), 7.89-7.48 (m, 2H, H-8, H-9), 5.36 (br s, 1H, OH),
4.48 (dqAB, J = 2.5, 17.0 Hz, Δδ = 0.26 ppm, 2H, CH2), 4.17 (s, 1H, CH), 3.65 (s, 3H, OCH3), 2.44 (t, J =
2.5 Hz, 1H, C≡CH); IR (KBr): 3330, 3270, 2120, 1741, 1734, 1685 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for C21H13F6NO5:
C, 53.29; H, 2.77; N, 2.96. Found: C, 53.17; H, 2.85; N, 2.99.
Ethyl 4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-(prop-2-ynyl)-6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2,3,4-
1
tetrahydrobenzo[h]quinoline-3-carboxylate (7b): mp 175-176 °C (n-C6H14); H NMR (CDCl3): δ
9.16-8.82 (m, 1H, H-7), 8.71-8.45 (m, 2H, H-5, H-10), 7.97-7.62 (m, 2H, H-8, H-9), 5.56 (br s, 1H, OH),
4.56 (dqAB, J = 2.5, 17.0 Hz, Δδ = 0.30 ppm, 2H, CH2), 4.21 (s, 1H, CH), 4.15 (q, J = 7.0 Hz, 2H,
CH2CH3), 2.52 (t, J = 2.5 Hz, 1H, C≡CH), 1.05 (t, J = 7.0 Hz, 3H, CH2CH3); IR (KBr): 3320, 3260, 2116,
1743, 1734, 1683 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for C22H15F6NO5: C, 54.22; H, 3.10; N, 2.87. Found: C, 54.16; H,
3.14; N, 2.89.
Isopropyl 4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-(prop-2-ynyl)-6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2,3,4-
1
tetrahydrobenzo[h]quinoline-3-carboxylate (7c): mp 174-175 °C (CHCl3); H NMR (CDCl3): δ
9.04-8.77 (m, 1H, H-7), 8.57-8.32 (m, 2H, H-5, H-10), 7.93-7.64 (m, 2H, H-8, H-9), 5.60 (br s, 1H, OH),
4.93 (hp, J = 6.0 Hz, 1H, OCH), 4.51 (dqAB, J = 2.5, 17.0 Hz, Δδ = 0.34 ppm, 2H, CH2), 4.13 (s, 1H, CH),
2.50 (t, J = 2.5 Hz, 1H, C≡CH), 1.18 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 3H, CH3), 0.82 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 3H, CH3); IR (KBr):
3345, 3288, 2133, 1746, 1708, 1688 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for C23H17F6NO5: C, 55.10; H, 3.42; N, 2.79.
Found: C, 55.21; H, 3.43; N, 2.67.
Methyl 2-oxo-1-(prop-2-ynyl)-6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydrobenzo[h]-

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quinoline-3-carboxylate (8a): mp 210-211 °C (n-C6H14/EtOAc); 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 9.13-8.79 (m, 2H,
H-7, H-10), 8.59 (br s, 1H, H-5), 8.08-7.68 (m, 2H, H-8, H-9), 4.99 (d, J = 2.5 Hz, 2H, CH2), 4.01 (s, 3H,
OCH3), 2.71 (t, J = 2.5 Hz, 1H, C≡CH); IR (KBr): 3300, 2108, 1740, 1730, 1718 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for
C21H11F6NO4: C, 55.40; H, 2.44; N, 3.08. Found: C, 55.27; H, 2.69; N, 2.96.
Ethyl 2-oxo-1-(prop-2-ynyl)-6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydrobenzo[h]-
quinoline-3-carboxylate (8b): mp 180-181 °C (n-C6H14/EtOAc); 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 9.05-8.68 (m, 2H,
H-7, H-10), 8.51 (br s, 1H, H-5), 8.00-7.59 (m, 2H, H-8, H-9), 4.94 (d, J = 2.5 Hz, 2H, CH2), 4.46 (q, J =
7.0 Hz, 2H, CH2CH3), 2.72 (t, J = 2.5 Hz, 1H, C≡CH), 1.41 (t, J = 7.0 Hz, 3H, CH2CH3); IR (KBr): 3290,
2108, 1745, 1738, 1696 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for C22H13F6NO4: C, 56.30; H, 2.79; N, 2.98. Found: C, 56.39;
H, 2.99; N, 2.93.
Isopropyl 2-oxo-1-(prop-2-ynyl)-6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydrobenzo[h]-
quinoline-3-carboxylate (8c): mp 189-190 °C (n-C6H14/EtOAc); 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 9.00-8.76 (m, 2H,
H-7, H-10), 8.53 (br s, 1H, H-5), 7.95-7.59 (m, 2H, H-8, H-9), 5.32 (hp, J = 6.0 Hz, 1H, OCH), 4.93 (d, J
= 2.5 Hz, 2H, CH2), 2.68 (t, J = 2.5 Hz, 1H, C≡CH), 1.40 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 6H, CH3); IR (KBr): 3248, 2148,
1735, 1713, 1698 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for C23H15F6NO4: C, 57.15; H, 3.13; N, 2.90. Found: C, 57.01; H,
3.22; N, 2.81.
Dehydration of 7c into 8c
To a solution of 7c (1.00 g, 2 mmol) and pyridine (0.32 g, 4 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (16 mL) was added
dropwise thionyl chloride (0.48 g, 4 mmol) with cooling and the stirring was continued at room
temperature for 2 h. The mixture was extracted with CH2Cl2 (50 mL), washed with sat. Na2CO3 (100
mL), with 1N HCl (100 mL), and dried over Na2SO4. Evaporation of the solvent gave the practically
pure 8c (0.86 g, 1.78 mmol, 89%).
4-(6-(2,2,2-Trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethylbenzo[h]quinolin-3-yl)butan-2-one (9a): mp 141-
142 °C (n-C6H14/CHCl3); 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 9.30 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-7 or 10), 9.02 (s, 1H, H-2),
8.70 (br s, 1H, H-5), 8.52 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-10 or 7), 7.93-7.53 (m, 2H, H-8, H-9), 3.56-3.15 (m,
2H, CH2), 2.98-2.72 (m, 2H, CH2CO), 2.18 (s, 3H, CH3); 13C NMR (CDCl3): δ 205.9, 182.4 (q, JCF = 34.2
Hz), 156.2, 147.7, 134.0, 132.6 (q, JCF = 30.5 Hz), 131.8, 130.3, 128.9, 128.6, 128.0, 127.9, 125.3, 124.9,
124.5 (q, JCF = 277.1 Hz), 119.3, 116.5 (q, JCF = 293.0 Hz), 45.0, 29.8, 26.2; IR (KBr): 1729, 1715 cm-1.
Anal. Calcd for C20H13F6NO2: C, 58.12; H, 3.17; N, 3.39. Found: C, 58.40; H, 2.96; N, 3.32.

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1-Phenyl-3-(6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethylbenzo[h]quinolin-3-yl)propan-1-one (9b): mp
144-145 °C (n-C6H14/EtOAc); 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 9.24 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-7 or 10), 9.07 (s, 1H,
H-2), 8.67 (br s, 1H, H-5), 8.50 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-10 or 7), 8.00-7.24 (m, 7H, H-8, H-9, Ph),
3.69-3.26 (m, 4H, CH2); IR (KBr): 1706, 1680 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for C25H15F6NO2: C, 63.16; H, 3.18; N,
2.95. Found: C, 63.23; H, 3.42; N, 2.87.
1-(3-(Buta-2,3-dienyl)-4-trifluoromethylbenzo[h]quinolin-6-yl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanone (10): mp
82-83 °C (n-C6H14); 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 9.08 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-7 or 10), 8.45-8.23 (m, 2H, H-2,
H-5), 7.66-7.37 (m, 3H, H-10 or 7, H-8, H-9), 5.70-5.23 (m, 1H, CH), 4.80-4.61 (m, 2H, C=CH2),
3.85-3.63 (m, 2H, CH2); IR (KBr): 1953, 1712 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for C20H11F6NO: C, 60.77; H, 2.80; N,
3.54. Found: C, 61.14; H, 2.47; N, 3.51.
Methyl 3-oxo-2-(6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethylbenzo[h]quinolin-3-ylmethyl)butanoate
1
(5f): mp 103-104 °C (n-C6H14/CHCl3); H NMR (CDCl3): δ 9.25 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-7 or 10),
9.00 (s, 1H, H-2), 8.64 (br s, 1H, H-5), 8.48 (dd, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz, 1H, H-10 or 7), 7.85-7.56 (m, 2H, H-8,
H-9), 3.99-3.38 (m, 3H, CH2CH), 3.68 (s, 3H, OCH3), 2.27 (s, 3H, CH3); IR (KBr): 1744, 1729, 1718
cm-1. Anal. Calcd for C22H15F6NO4: C, 56.06; H, 3.21; N, 2.97. Found: C, 56.03; H, 3.26; N, 2.95.
Methyl 4-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-(prop-2-ynyl)-6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,4-dihydro-
benzo[h]quinoline-3-carboxylate (11): mp 173-174 °C (n-C6H14/EtOAc); 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 8.87-8.64
(m, 1H, H-7), 8.46-8.14 (m, 2H, H-5, H-10), 7.95-7.66 (m, 2H, H-8, H-9), 5.96 (s, 1H, OH), 4.55 (dqAB, J
= 2.5, 17.0 Hz, Δδ = 1.05 ppm, 2H, CH2), 3.60 (s, 3H, OCH3), 2.10 (t, J = 2.5 Hz, 1H, C≡CH), 1.76 (s,
3H, CH3); IR (KBr): 3275, 3235, 2104, 1745, 1709 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for C22H15F6NO4: C, 56.06; H, 3.21;
N, 2.97. Found: C, 55.81; H, 3.56; N, 2.77.
2-Oxo-1-(prop-2-ynyl)-6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,2-dihydrobenzo[h]quinoline-3-
1
carbonitrile (12): mp 235 °C (dec.) (CH2Cl2/CHCl3); H NMR (CD3CN/CDCl3): δ 9.20-8.80 (m, 2H,
H-7, H-10), 8.58 (br s, 1H, H-5), 8.07-7.84 (m, 2H, H-8, H-9), 4.98 (d, J = 2.5 Hz, 2H, CH2), 2.90 (t, J =
2.5 Hz, 1H, C≡CH); IR (KBr): 3284, 2216, 2112, 1727, 1713 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for C20H8F6N2O2: C,
56.89; H, 1.91; N, 6.63. Found: C, 57.05; H, 1.94; N, 6.44.
2-Amino-4-hydroxy-1-(prop-2-ynyl)-6-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-4-trifluoromethyl-1,4-dihydrobenzo-
1
[h]quinoline-3-carbonitrile (13): mp 215 °C (dec.) (CH2Cl2/CHCl3); H NMR (CD3CN/CDCl3): δ
9.02-8.85 (m, 1H, H-7), 8.60-8.34 (m, 2H, H-5, H-10), 7.96-7.71 (m, 2H, H-8, H-9), 5.72 (br s, 2H, NH2),

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 2, 2010
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5.06 (s, 1H, OH), 4.52 (d, J = 2.5 Hz, 2H, CH2), 2.87 (t, J = 2.5 Hz, 1H, C≡CH); IR (KBr): 3500, 3410,
3300, 3244, 2188, 2112, 1687 cm-1. Anal. Calcd for C20H11F6N3O2: C, 54.68; H, 2.52; N, 9.57. Found: C,
54.75; H, 2.52; N, 9.50.
Hydrolysis of 13 into 12
To a solution of 13 (1.32 g, 3 mmol) in THF (24 mL) was added 6N HCl (6 mL) and the solution was
stirred at room temperature for 4 h. The mixture was extracted with CH2Cl2 (50 mL), washed with sat.
aq. Na2CO3 (100 mL), and dried over Na2SO4. Evaporation of the solvent gave the practically pure 12
(1.19 g, 2.82 mmol, 94%).
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