A New Synthesis of Naphthyridinones and Quinolinones: Palladium-Catalyzed Amidation of o-Carbonyl-Substituted Aryl Halides

[reaction: see text] An alternative to the Friedlander condensation for the synthesis of naphthyridinones and quinolinones has been discovered. Palladium-catalyzed amidation of halo aromatics substituted in the ortho position by a carbonyl functional group or its equivalent with primary or secondary amides leads to the formation of substituted naphthyridinones and quinolinones.