Transition-Metal-Free Approach for the Synthesis of 4-Aryl-quinolines from Alkynes and Anilines

An efficient and transition-metal-free approach for the synthesis of 4-arylquinolines from readily available anilines and alkynes in the presence of K2S2O8 and DMSO has been developed. A variety of alkynes and anilines having a diverse range of substitution patterns can undergo the one-pot cascade process successfully. Effectively, this method uses DMSO as one carbon source, thus providing a highly atom-economical and environmentally benign approach for the synthesis of 4-arylquinolines.