Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Polysubstituted 4‐Quinolones from Deprotonated α‐Aminonitriles

The α‐alkylation of deprotonated N ‐aryl‐α‐aminonitriles with α‐bromoesters furnishes intermediates that can be cyclized to 4‐quinolones upon microwave irradiation. Alternatively, base‐induced dehydrocyanation of the alkylation products furnishes enaminoesters, which can, for example, be converted into quinoline‐3‐carboxylates.