RuCl2(dmso)4 catalyzes the solvent-free indirect Friedlander synthesis of polysubstituted quinolines from alcohols

The first synthesis of polysubstituted quinoline derivatives from aromatic or aliphatic alcohols with RuCl2(dmso)(4) as catalyst under solvent-free conditions is described. The reaction involves the in situ oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds through a hydrogen-transfer, followed by a Friedlander annulation process. The whole process is a mild, efficient, selective, and high-yielding single-step procedure. ((c) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co.