Three-component condensation of Meldrum’s acid with 2-naphthylamine and esters derived from vanillin

Three-component condensation of Meldrum’s acid (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione) with 2-naphthylamine and esters derived from vanillin involves intermediate formation of N-arylmethylidene-2-naphthylamines which are cleaved with Meldrum’s acid to give 5-arylmethylidene-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones and arylmethylideneketenes. Reaction of the latter with 2-naphthylamine leads to formation of 2-methoxy-4-(3-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzof]quinolin-1-yl)phenyl carboxylates.