Isoquinolin-1(2H)-ones and 1,6-naphthyridin-5(6H)-ones by an N-acylation-SNAr sequence

A new synthesis of 2,3-dialkyl-4-carbomethoxyisoquinolin-1(2H)-ones and 6,7-dialkyl-8-carbomethoxy-1,6-naphthyridin-5(6H)-ones is reported. The process involves treatment of a β-enaminoester with 2-fluoro-5-nitrobenzoyl chloride, 2-fluorobenzoyl chloride or 2-chloronicotinoyl chloride followed by heating in the presence of base. The conversion, which proceeds by an N-acylation-S_NAr reaction sequence, affords 50–86% yields when R¹ is n-alkyl but ≤30% yields when R¹ is α-branched.