New methods for functionalization of 1-methyl-2-quinolone (MeQone) skeleton are provided. The reaction of 1-methyl-3, 6, 8-trinitro-2-quinolone (TNQ) with amines affords quinolone dimer 1 and 6, 8-dinitroquinolone (6, 8-DNQ). Dimerization predominantly proceeds at room temperature, and denitration takes place under heated and diluted conditions. We also provide a plausible mechanism for these reactions on the basis of structure–reactivity ...
[Asahara, Motoki; Ohtsutsumi, Masaki; Tamura, Mina; Nishiwaki, Nagatoshi; Ariga, Masahiro Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan, 2005 , vol. 78, # 12 p. 2235 - 2237]