Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of novel substituted ethyl 2-(quinolin-4-yl)-propanoates.

Substituted 4-hydroxyquinolines were synthesized from anilines and diethyl 2-(ethoxymethylene)malonate by the Gould-Jacobs reaction via cyclization of the intermediate anilinomethylenemalonate followed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation. The 4-hydroxyquinolines reacted with phosphorous oxychloride to form 4-chloroquinolines, which reacted on heating with diethyl sodiomethylmalonate in DMF to yield moderate yields of substituted ethyl 2-(quinolin-4-yl)propanoates, many of which showed potent antimicrobial activity against Helicobacter pylori.