| Abstract: | A convenient synthetic pathway to benzog]quinolines (1-azaanthracenes) has been developed. The nickel catalyzed coupling of methyl 2-chloronicotinate ( 3a ) with benzylic organo zinc reagents 2a-e led to the methyl 2-benzylic substituted nicotinates 4a-e. Treatment of methyl 2-chloro-6-methylnicotinate ( 3b )with 2a in a similar manner led to methyl 2-benzyl-6-methyInicotinate ( 4f ). The coupling of 2-chloro-3-acetylpyridine ( 5 ) with benzyl zinc bromide ( 2a ) led to 2-benzyl-3-acetylpyridine ( 4g ). The coupling of the 2,5-dichlorobenzylic organic zinc reagent ( 2f ) with methyl 2-choronicotinate ( 3a ) was unselective but readily coupled with methyl 2-bromonicotinate ( 6 ) to yield methyl 2-(2,5-dichlorobenzyl)nicotinate ( 4h ). The esters 4a-f,h on reduction with lithium aluminum hydride led to the corresponding alcohols 7a-f,h which were subsequently oxidized with manganese dioxide to the respective 2-benzylic substituted pyridine-3-carboxaldehydes 8a-f,h. In one case the coupling of benzy] zinc bromide ( 2a ) with 2-chloropyridine-3-carboxaldehyde ( 9 ) led directly to 2-benzylpyridine-3-carboxaldehyde ( 8a ), but in poor yield. Cyclizations of the aldehydes 8a-d,f,h or the ketone 4g with polyphosphoric acid afforded the benzog]quinolines 10a-d,f-h in high yields. Aldehyde 8e was cyclized to 10e using a solution of sulfuric acid in methanol. Several of the benzog]quinolines 10c,d could be readly converted into the benzoq]quinoline-5,10-diones 11c,d on treatment with ammonium ceric nitrate. |
