A modification of the Baeyer–Villiger reaction allows the conversion of aromatic 2-hydroxy-3- nitroketones and aldehydes into 3-nitrocatechols, which can be reduced to 3- aminocatechols. Reaction of the latter with acrolein yields quinoline-7, 8-diols under exceptionally mild conditions. This new reaction sequence was successfully applied to the synthesis of the title compounds.
