Regioselective O-alkylation: synthesis of 1-{2-[(2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)methoxy]-6-chloro-4-phenylquinolin-3-yl}ethanones

An efficient and regioselective O-alkylation of amides with a variety of electrophiles in the presence of silver nanoparticles is reported as part of our recent research on building blocks for synthesis of natural products. The nano-silver catalyst initiates O-alkylation of the amides by heteroalkyl halides. Reaction of equimolar 3-acetyl-6-chloro-4-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one and 2-chloro-3-(chloromethyl)quinolines in the presence of silver nanoparticles in DMSO solution under reflux condition leads to the formation of 1-{1-[2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)methoxy]-6-chloro-4-phenylquinolin-3-yl}ethanones.