Catalyst-Free Double CH-Functionalization of Quinolines with Phosphine Oxides via Two SNHAr Reaction Sequences

J Org Chem. 2020 Apr 3;85(7):4927-4936. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.0c00084. Epub 2020 Mar 25.

Abstract

Quinolines undergo catalyst-free double CH-functionalization upon treatment with secondary phosphine oxides (70-75 °C, 20-48 h) followed by oxidation of the intermediate 2,4-bisphosphoryltetrahydroquinolines with chloranil. The yields of the target 2,4-bisphosphorylated quinolines are up to 77%. Thus, a double-SNHAr reaction sequence in the same molecule of quinoline has been realized. In the case of 2,4-bisphenylphosphoryltetrahydroquinolines, the aromatization occurs with elimination of one molecule of diphenylphosphine oxide to afford the products of monofunctionalization, 4-diphenylphosphorylquinolines, in 40-45% yields.