Studies on quinoline derivatives and related compounds. II. Synthesis of 5-substituted 1-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid

The cyclization of m-substituted anilinomethylenemalonates ( 1 ) in the presence of polyphosphate ester and some other cyclizing agents gave mixtures of the isomeric ethyl 5- ( 2 ) and 7-substituted 4-hydroxy-3-quinolinecarboxylates ( 3 ), which led to mixtures of the corresponding quinolinecarboxylic acids ( 4 and 5 ) by hydrolysis. The proportions of 4 and 5 in the mixtures were determined on the basis of their nmr spectra. Novel 5-chloro- ( 8a ), 5-methyl- ( 8b ) and 5-nitro-1-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acids were prepared and evaluated for antimicrobial activities. No significant activity, however, was noted.