Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Polysubstituted 4-Quinolones from Deprotonated α-Aminonitriles

The alpha-alkylation of deprotonated N-aryl-alpha-aminonitriles with alpha-bromoesters furnishes intermediates that can be cyclized to 4-quinolones upon microwave irradiation. Alternatively, base-induced dehydrocyanation of the alkylation products furnishes enaminoesters, which can, for example, be converted into quinoline-3-carboxylates.