Preparation of 2,4,5-trisubstituted pyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolin-3-ones

The preparation of pyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolinones is reported starting from 2-substituted-5-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-oxo-2,4-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-ones. A one-pot protocol, in which condensation with an orthoamide followed by substitution with a primary amine and subsequent SNAr-cyclization to provide rapid access to 4- and 5-substituted pyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolinones was developed.