Abstract A novel preparative method for 1-alkyl-1, 4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acids was developed. The key process is the cyclization of N- alkylanilinomethylenemalonales, which was effected successfully in the presence of polyphosphoric acid, polyphosphate ester, boron tri-fluoride or a mixture of acetic anhydride and sulfuric acid. With phosphorus oxychloride, N-alkylanilinomethylenemalonates ...