An unusual reaction of 2-(2-pyridylcarbonyl)- and 2-(2-quinolylcarbonyl)benzoyl chlorides with p-nitroaniline

In the reaction of 2-(2-pyridylcarbonyl)benzoyl chloride, which exists in the form of 6,11-dioxo-6,11dihydrobenzo[b]quinolizinium chloride, with p-nitroaniline, 2-(4-nitrophenylimino)-6, 11-dihydro-2H-benzo-[b]quinolizine-6, I I -dione is unexpectedly formed. When it reacts with water or methanol there is an opening of the quinolizine ring and aromatization of the quinoid fragment with the formation of 2-[4-(4nitrophenylamino)-2-pyridylcarbonyl]benzoic acid or its methyl ester. Under the action of antimony pentachloride, 2- 2-quinolylcarbonyl)benzoylchloride-3 (2-quinolyl)-3-chloro- 1, 3-dihydrobenzo[c]furan-1 -one -is converted to 3-(2-quinolyl)-1,3-dihydrobenzo[c]furan-1-on-3-ylium hexachlorantimonate, which undergoes isomerizing recyclization upon heating to 7,12-dioxo-7,12-dihydrobenzo[b/ hexachloroantimonate. The latter enters into an analogous reaction with p-nitroaniline, thereby forming 5-(4-nitrophenylimino)-7,12-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[b,f]quinolizine-7,2-dione.