Diels‐alder reaction of 1‐methyl‐3,6,8‐trinitro‐2‐quinolone

1‐Methyl‐3,6,8‐trinitro‐2‐quinolone (1) behaved as the dienophile in Diels‐Alder reactions with dienes. When cyclopentadiene was used, cycloadduct 4 was obtained, which was then aromatized on treatment with triethylamine. In the reaction of 1 with hydrazone of 2‐butenal, phenanthridine derivative 7 was produced.