Base-catalyzed cyclization reaction of 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbonitriles and guanidine hydrochloride: a rapid synthesis of 2-amino-3H-pyrimido[4,5-b]quinolin-4-ones

t-BuOK-catalyzed cyclization of 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbonitriles with guanidine hydrochloride provided simple and rapid synthesis of 2-amino-3H-pyrimido[4,5-b]quinolin-4-ones in very short reaction time with good yield. Other 1,3-binucleophiles are found to react at the same rate. This methodology could be extended with their 3-formyl and 3-ester derivatives for the synthesis of pyrimido annulated quinolines.