Zinc triflate: a highly efficient reusable catalyst in the synthesis of functionalized quinolines via Friedlander annulation.

An environmentally friendly and highly efficient procedure for the preparation of quinolines and fused polycyclic quinolines has been developed by a simple Friedlander annulation reaction of 2-aminoaryl ketone with carbonyl compounds in presence of zinc triflate under microwave irradiation and solvent-free conditions. The reaction also proceeds effectively when In(OTf)(3) was used in lieu of Zn(OTf)(2) as the catalyst. The catalyst can be recovered after the reaction and reused efficiently in subsequent runs.