Metal-Free, Site-Selective Addition to Ynones: An Approach to Synthesize Substituted Quinoline Derivatives

An efficient two component cycloaddition reaction to synthesize various substituted quinoline derivatives was developed. Ynone 1 was functionalizated by N-oxide attacking the C3-oxetium site and C3-site regioselectively to give 3 and 4. Analogues 3k and 4v have a high binding constant with Hg2+ in CH3CN.