A new approach to 3-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic acid

Quinoline-2-carboxylic acid derivatives cap the N-terminal of several natural cyclic peptides with antitumoral activity. A new and convenient route for the preparation of 3-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic acid is discussed. The preparation of the title compound is accomplished by a four-step procedure from 3-hydroxyquinoline via MOM protection of the hydroxyl group, followed by a 1,2-addition of methyllithium to the quinoline ring with concomitant oxidation, and, finally, a two-step oxidation procedure for the transformation of the methyl group to the carboxylic acid along with removal of the MOM group. Furthermore, different attempts to its preparation led to other interesting quinolines, such as 2-chloro-3-hydroxyquinoline-4-carboxylic acid and a protected 3,3′-dihydroxy-2,2′-biquinoline.