Synthesis of 5-hydroxyquinolines

A series of 5-hydroxyquinolines has been prepared via the Skraup reaction. Several regioisomers were made either by selective displacement of a leaving group or by using a bromo substituent as a blocking group. The bromo group was found to be an excellent blocking group due to its stability during the Skraup reaction and easy removal thereafter. Halides at the 5-position of quinoline were found to be much more reactive than those at the 7- and 8-positions. Finally, we have also found a unique method to reduce the pyridyl ring on quinolines, leaving a halogen substituent untouched.