Synthesis of Substituted 2-Pyridyl-4-phenylquinolines

The acid-catalyzed condensation of o-aminobenzophenones with aromatic acetyl derivatives, in a basic methanol/tetrahydrofuran medium, has been used to prepare a series of substituted 2-pyridyl-4-phenylquinolines. Derivatives having two aza binding sites can act as asymmetric bidendate ligands to complex transition metals such as ruthenium, osmium or iridium. All the compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, Ei or FAB (+) MS, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopies. Complete assignments of the 1H spectra were accomplished by using a combination of one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques.