Synthesis of 3-substituted quinolines by ruthenium-catalyzed aza-Michael addition and intramolecular annulation of enaminones with anthranils

The ruthenium-catalyzed aza-Michael addition and intramolecular annulation of enaminones with anthranils to access substituted quinolines has been realized efficiently under simple and easy-to-operate conditions. The reaction substrates in this transformation are different from those in the traditional methods in which anilines are often employed. Most of the products were obtained in good yields. This method offers an alternative approach for the synthesis of 3-arylformyl substituted quinoline derivatives.