Synthesis of quinolines via ruthenium-catalysed amine exchange reaction between anilines and trialkylamines

Anilines react with an array of trialkylamines in the presence of a catalytic amount of RuCl3·nH2O and bis(diphenylphosphino)methane together with SnCl2·2H2O and hex-1-ene as hydrogen acceptor in dioxane at 180 °C to afford the corresponding 2,3-disubstituted quinolines in moderate to good yields.