Synthesis of 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline derivatives via palladium-catalyzed heteroannulation of 2-aryl-3-iodo-4-(phenylamino)quinolines and 4-(N,N-allylphenylamino)-2-aryl-3-iodoquinolines

Palladium(0)/copper iodide catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling of 2-aryl-3-iodo-4-(phenylamino)quinolines with terminal alkynes afforded series of 1,2,4-trisubstituted 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinolines in a single-step operation. Conversely, the 4-(N,N-allylphenylamino)-2-aryl-3-iodoquinoline derivatives were found to undergo PdCl2(PPh3)2/CuI catalyzed intramolecular Heck reaction to yield the corresponding 1,3,4-trisubstituted 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinolines.