Copper(ii)-catalyzed three-component coupling sequence for the efficient synthesis of 2-arylquinolines: 1,4-dioxane serving as the C2 building block

A copper-catalyzed three-component coupling sequence for 2-arylquinolines formation from aromatic aldehydes, anilines and 1,4-dioxane has been described. Unexpectedly, 1,4-dioxane served as a C₂ building block in this transformation. This formal [4 + 2] approach provides rapid access to 2-arylquinolines with broad substrate scope under mild conditions.