1-Alkyl-4-alkoxy-2-quinolineones - as minor tranquillisers and their 3-carboxylic acid ester derivs. as inters

Cpds (I): (where R is 1-8C alkyl; R1 is H or 1-6C alkyl; R2 is 1-8C alkyl, and R3 is H, F, Cl, br or 1-4C alkoxy provided R2 is not Me when R is Me and R1 and R3 are both H) are prepd by reacting a cpd (I) (where R is H or alkali metal and R1, R2 and R3 are as defined, or R2 is H or alkali metal and R, R1 and R3 are as defined) with R6X (where R6 is 1-8C alkyl and X is Cl, Br I or OB; where B is MeSO2, PhSO2, or p-Me. C6H4SO2) or by reacting a cpd (IV) with (III) ot give (II) which is decarboxylated to give (I,R1=H) (where R4' is 1-8C alkyl; R9 is 1-4C alkyl; M is an alkali metal). Cpds (I) and (II) are used in the prepn of medicaments.