A convenient allenoate-based synthesis of 2-quinolin-2-yl malonates and β-ketoesters.

N-Protected o-aminobenzaldehydes smoothly react with α,γ-dialkylallenoates under Brønsted basic conditions to yield 2,3-disubstituted quinolines. This three-step reaction cascade of Michael addition, aldol condensation, and 1,3-N → C rearrangement uses the complete protecting group as a building block in a highly efficient C,C-bond formation of a new all-carbon quaternary center. Carbamate protected substrates (N-Boc, N-Cbz, N-Alloc) thus give 2-quinolin-2-yl-malonates, while amide protected substrates (N-Ac, N-Bz) afford 2-quinolin-2-yl-β-ketoesters in high yields.