Novel approach to synthesis of substituted 3-aminoquinolines from nitroarenes and protected ethyl aminocrotonate

The addition of mono- and dianions of ethyl N-pivaloyl-3-aminocrotonate to substituted nitroarenes, followed by action of silylating or acylating agent, leads to 3-aminoquinoline carboxylic acid derivatives. Hydrolysis and decarboxylation of the latter, carried out efficiently under relatively mild conditions, afford 3-aminoquinolines diversely substituted in the benzo-fused ring.