Ruthenium-catalyzed cyclization of anilides with substituted propiolates or acrylates: an efficient route to 2-quinolinones.

A Ru-catalyzed cyclization of anilides with propiolates or acrylates affording 2-quinolinones having diverse functional groups in good to excellent yields is described. Later, 2-quinolinones were converted into 3-halo-2-quinolinones and 2-chloroquinolines. The proposed mechanism was strongly supported by experimental evidence and deuterium labeling studies.