The preparation of quinolines and related fused-ring heterocycles from the dianions of benzoylacetone, certain cyclic ketone oximes, or certain substituted hydrazones

C(α),O-Dilithiooximes, C(α),N-dilithiobenzoylhydrazones, or C(α),N-dilithiocarboalkoxyhydrazones were prepared in an excess of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) and condensed with 2-aminobenzophenones, or isatoic anhydrides to give intermediates that were treated with aqueous acid, which caused their hydrolysis, cyclodehydration and/or linear dehydration to give products which were substituted quinolines or related fused-ring heterocycles (e.g., cycloheptaquinolines). Dilithiobenzoylacetone was condensed with 2-aminobenzophenones, which was followed by acid cyclodehydration to substituted 2-phenacylquinolines.