The microwave-induced synthesis of some quinoline alkaloids of the type 4-methoxy-1-methyl-
2-quinolinone including folimine is reported. The precursors 4-hydroxy-2-quinolinone
derivatives were effectively prepared in a single step from aniline and diethylmalonate using ptoluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst and these intermediates were converted to the titled quinoline
alkaloids by treatment with dimethyl sulfate, N,N-dimethylformamide and potassium carbonate.
The presented synthentic procedure is a convenient, simple and fast alternative for synthesizing
4-methoxy-1-methyl-2-quinolinone and its derivatives