Alkylation of 2-nitrobenzyl cyanides with alpha-halomethyl ketones furnishes ketonitriles which upon reduction with tin(II) chloride form quinoline-4-carbonitriles in good yields.
Alkylation of 5-nitroindol-4-ylacetonitriles with ethylchloroacetate, alpha-halomethyl ketones, and chloroacetonitrile followed by a treatment of the products with chlorotrimethylsilane in the presence of DBU gives 1-cyanopyrrolo[3,2-e]indoles substituted in position 2 with electron-withdrawing groups.
Alkylation of 2-nitrobenzyl cyanides with alpha-halomethyl ketones furnishes ketonitriles which upon reduction with tin(II) chloride form quinoline-4-carbonitriles in good yields.