I2-Promoted Povarov-Type Reaction Using 1,4-Dithane-2,5-diol as an Ethylene Surrogate: Formal [4 + 2] Synthesis of Quinolines.

A highly efficient I2-promoted formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition has been developed for the synthesis of 2-acylquinolines from methyl ketones and arylamines using 1,4-dithane-2,5-diol as an ethylene surrogate. Moreover, the investigation of the mechanism suggested that this reaction occurred via an iodination/Kornblum oxidation/Povarov/aromatization sequence. It is noteworthy that the arylamine substrate also played an important role in promoting the reaction.