Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Atropisomeric Quinolines through the Friedlander Reaction

A phosphoric acid catalyzed atroposelective Friedlander reaction was developed in which acetylacetone and a variety of 2'-substituted 2-aminobenzophenones were successfully employed to give optically active biaryl quinolines in good yields and with high enantioselectivities.