Iron-catalyzed three-component tandem process: a novel and convenient synthetic route to quinoline-2,4-dicarboxylates from arylamines, glyoxylic esters, and α-ketoesters

A new and convenient iron-catalyzed three-component tandem reaction of aromatic amines, glyoxylic esters, and α-ketoesters has been developed for the synthesis of quinoline-2,4-dicarboxylates under mild conditions. The present protocol, which utilizes cheap catalysts, readily-available starting materials and mild reaction conditions, provides an attractive approach to a series of functionalized quinoline derivatives with promising unique pharmaceutical, biological, and fluorescence-labeling applications.