New synthetic approach to epoxyisoindolo[2,1-a]quinolines based on cycloaddition reactions of 2-furyl-substituted tetrahydroquinolines with maleic anhydride and acryloyl chloride

A procedure was developed for the synthesis of hydrogenated furyl-substituted furo[3,2-c]quinolines, pyrano[3,2-c]quinolines, and 4-ethoxy-and 4-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)quinolines. The reactions of these compounds with acryloyl chloride and maleic anhydride produce epoxyisoindolo[2,1-a]quinoline derivatives through successive acylation at the quinoline nitrogen atom and intramolecular exo-[4+2]-cycloaddition at the furan moiety. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.