Some reactions of 3-halogenocinnolines catalysed by palladium compounds

3-Bromo- or 3-iodo-cinnoline (and 4-substituted analogues) are condensed with terminal alkynes in the presence of Pd and Cu compounds as catalysts to give the 3-alkynyl-derivatives. When 4-chloro- or 4-phenoxy-compounds are used, the products react with amines, in the presence of copper(I) iodide, to form pyrrolo[3,2-c]cinnolines and with hydrazines to give either the same ring system or a pyrazolo[4,3-c]cinnoline. Hydrolysis of 3-alkynyl-4-phenoxycinnoline to 3-alkynyl-4(1H)-cinnoline, followed by cyclisation, yields the furo[3,2-c]cinnoline. Attempts to condense 3-halogenocinnolines with alkenes gave variable results: 3-phenyl ethenyl- and 3(2-pyridylethenyl)-4-(1H)-cinnolinones were obtained but 3-bromocinnoline gave the 3,3′-bicinnolinyl. Action of palladium acetate in the presence of ethyl acrylate converted 3-bromo-4-phenoxycinnoline into benzofuro[3,2-c]cinnoline and 3-bromo-4-phenylaminocinnoline into indolo[3,2-c]cinnoline.