A convenient preparation of 4,8‐dimethoxy‐3‐substituted‐2(1H)‐quinolones by an electrophilic reaction through base‐induced deprotonation and its synthetic application for the synthesis of new alkaloids, 3,4,8‐trimethoxy‐2(1H)‐quinolone and 3‐formyl‐4,7,8‐trimethoxy‐2(1H)‐quinolone(glycocitridine)

Some 4,8‐dimethoxy‐3‐substituted‐2(1H)‐quinolones were prepared by electrophilic reaction of 4,8‐dimethoxy‐2(1H)‐quinolone with electrophiles in the presence of n‐butyllithium‐N,N,N',N'‐tetramethylethyl‐enediamine in fairly good yields. This present method was successfully applied for the synthesis of two new alkaloids bearing the 4,8‐dimethoxy‐2(1H)‐quinolone skeleton.