Microwave-Accelerated Solvent- and Catalyst-Free Synthesis of 4-Aminoaryl/alkyl-7-chloroquinolines and 2-Aminoaryl/alkylbenzothiazoles

An efficient synthesis of 4-aminoaryl/alkyl-7-chloroquinolines and 2-aminoaryl/alkylbenzothiazoles has been developed by microwave-accelerated regioselective aromatic nucleophilic substitution of 4,7-dichloroquinoline and 2-chlorobenzothiazole with aromatic and aliphatic amines under solvent-free conditions in the absence of any added protic or Lewis acid catalyst. Chemoselective reaction with the amino group in preference to the phenolic hydroxy group was observed. Thus, the treatment of 4,7-dichloroquinoline (1 equiv.) with a mixture of aniline (2 equiv.) and phenol (2 equiv.) afforded exclusive formation of 4-aminophenyl-7-chloroquinoline. When 4,7-dichloroquinoline (1 equiv.) was separately treated with 2-aminophenol (2 equiv.) and 4-aminophenol (2 equiv.), 4-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-7-chloroquinoline and 4-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-7-chloroquinoline, respectively, were formed.