Modified Riemschneider Reaction of 3‐Thiocyanatoquinolinediones

The Riemschneider reaction of 3‐thiocyanatoquinoline‐2,4(1H,3H)‐diones with conc. H₂SO₄ was investigated. Using different reaction conditions, 13 types of reaction products were isolated. Compounds bearing a Me, Et, or Bu group at C(3) afforded mainly 1,3]thiazolo5,4‐c]quinoline‐2,4‐diones and 1,9b‐dihydro‐9b‐hydroxythiazolo5,4‐c]quinoline‐2,4‐diones. In the case of the 3‐Bu derivatives of the starting compounds, C‐debutylation was also observed. If a Bn group is present at C(3), rapid C‐debenzylation of the starting thiocyanates occurred, yielding 1,3]oxathiolo4,5‐c]quinoline‐2,4‐diones, and mixtures of mono‐, di‐, and trisulfides derived from 4‐hydroxy‐3‐sulfanylquinoline‐2‐ones. The reaction mechanism of all of the transformations is discussed. All new compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI and ESI mass spectra, and in some cases, ¹⁵N‐NMR spectra were also used to characterize new compounds.