2-Amino-3-methyl-3H—imidazo [4, 5flquinoline (IQ, la) and four new IQ homo-logues, viz. its 7-methyl, 8-methyl, 9-methyl and 7, 9—dimethyl derivatives lc—ll', have been conveniently synthesized from the appropriate G-methoxyquinolines 3 rather than from the previously used less reactive and less available 6 'haloquinolines. The 7—methyl, 9—methyl and 7, 9— dimethyl derivatives were also prepared by radical methylation of 1a. Synthetic routes to 1 ...