An efficient synthesis of 4-arylquinolin-2(1H)-ones and 3-alkenyl-4-arylquinolin-2(1H)-one using a Pd/NiFe2O4-catalyzed consecutive Heck reaction

A convenient one-pot method for the synthesis of 4-arylquinolin-2(1H)-ones and 4-arylcoumarins has been described. The successive Heck reaction on substituted 2-iodoaniline and 2-iodophenol catalyzed by a Pd/nickel ferrite catalyst followed by in situ cyclization was the key step. The scope of this methodology was extended to the synthesis of bioactive 3-alkenyl derivatives of 4-arylquinolin-2(1H)-ones.