Interaction of quinolines polyfluorinated on the benzene moiety with sodium and potassium amides in liquid ammonia

The interaction of 5,6,7,8-tetrafluoro- (1) and 5,7,8-trifluoro-6-(trifluoromethyl)quinoline (2) with sodium or potassium amide in liquid ammonia proceeds as a nucleophile (NH2−) addition on the 2-position of the pyridine ring, the respective adducts being oxidized to give the respective quinoline-2-amines. In the case of 1 the amide addition is concurrent with aminodefluorination on the 6- and 7-positions. 5,6,8- (3), 5,7,8-trifluoro- (4) and 5,7-difluoroquinolines (5) with one amide equivalent undergo deprotonation of the CH bond flanked by two ortho-fluorine atoms to produce the respective long-lived quinolinyl anions, which can be used as nucleophilic synthons as exemplified by their methylation to yield respective 6- and 7-methylpolyfluoroquinolines. With an excess of potassium amide the originally generated quinolinyl anions add an amide anion on the 2- or 4-position.