Enol ethers as carbonyl surrogates in a modification of the Povarov synthesis of 3-aryl quinolines and their anti-Toxoplasma activity

A novel method for the preparation of 2-carboxyl-3-aryl quinoline derivatives from anilines, ethyl glyoxalate and enol ethers as phenylacetaldehyde surrogates is reported. The three-component coupling reaction occurs rapidly under mild conditions in dichloromethane catalysed by TFA. The method allows a more direct access to 3-aryl quinolines, sidestepping issues encountered with phenylacetaldehyde derivatives. This chemistry was used to prepare …