KO t Bu-promoted oxidative dimerizations of 2-methylquinolines to 2-alkenyl bisquinolines with molecular oxygen.

KO t Bu-promoted oxidative dimerizations of 2-methylquinolines with molecular oxygen as the oxidant have been developed for the first time. The mild reaction conditions allow the homo- and cross-dimerizations of 2-methylquinolines to give functionalized 2-alkenyl bisquinolines in highly trans -selective manners.