Novel Two-Step Synthesis of N -Alkylated 2,3-Diaryl-4-quinolones

A library of 18 polysubstituted 4-quinolones was conveniently prepared via simple and practical protocol involving N-alkylation of 2-(3-oxoindolin-2-yl)acetonitriles and following NaH-induced ring expansion. The current two-step approach provides feasible access to a subclass of N-protected C3-aryl-substituted 2-phenyl-4-quinolones starting with or just one step away from commercially available 2arylindoles and nitrostyrenes.