Synthesis of 4-haloquinolines and their fused polycyclic derivatives

A general method for the synthesis of 4-chloro- or 4-bromo-substituted quinolines and quinoline moieties of polycyclic compounds includes the addition of hydrogen halides to vic-amino(3-oxoalk-1-ynyl)arenes under mild conditions followed by the intramolecular cyclization of the adducts.