Selectivity in metal ions mediated C–N bond formation reactions of 8‐aminoquinoline derivatives

Cyclisation reactions via C–N bond formation of 2‐bromo‐N‐(quinolin‐8‐yl)propanamide (I) and 2‐bromo‐N‐(quinolin‐8‐yl)acetamide (II) are facilitated by metal salts such as copper (+2), nickel (+2) perchlorate or nitrate and palladium (+2) acetate. Nickel (+2) perchlorate mediated reaction of I and II resulted in C–N bond formation to give corresponding perchlorate salts of three fused six‐membered heterocyclic rings. The copper (+2) mediated reactions are found to be solvent dependent for I, but independent for II. Copper mediated reaction of II gave cyclised product analogous to the one obtained from reaction of II with nickel (+2) perchlorate in methanol or ethanol. But the reaction of I with copper (+2) perchlorate in methanol gave C–N bonded methoxylated cyclised product. This reaction took place in two steps, cyclisation followed by methoxylation. The source of methoxy group is confirmed to be from methanol by deuterium labelling experiments. Whereas similar copper mediated reaction of I in ethanol led to nucleophilic substitution of bromide ion by ethoxide. The structures of the salts of fused heterocyclic compounds were determined and their fluorescence emissions were studied. The large difference in fluorescence emission of compound V formed from copper mediated reaction in ethanol from the compound VI formed from nickel mediated reaction in methanol or ethanol, this feature can be used to distinguish nickel (+2) and copper (+2) ions. The reaction of II with palladium (+2) acetate resulted in the formation of C–N bond to yield the corresponding heterocycle as bromide salt; without anion exchange. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.