Preparation of 2-Arylquinolines from 2-Arylethyl Bromides and Aromatic Nitriles with Magnesium and N-Iodosuccinimide

Treatment of 2-arylethylmagnesium bromides, prepared from 2-arylethyl bromides and magnesium, with aromatic nitriles, followed by reaction with water and then with N-iodosuccinimide under irradiation with a tungsten lamp, gave the corresponding 2-arylquinolines in good to moderate yields under transition-metal-free conditions. 2-Alkylquinolines could be also obtained in moderate yields by the same procedure with 2-arylethyl bromides, magnesium, aliphatic nitriles­ bearing a secondary alkyl group, and N-iodosuccinimide.