The reaction of 2,4-dichloroquinolines with 2-amino-5-chlorobenzophenone yielded 2-[(2-benzoyl-4-chlorophenyl) amino]-4-chloroquinolines which with sodium methoxide afforded 2-[(2-benzoyl-4-chlorophenyl)amino]-4-methoxyquinolines. These on PPA-catalysed cyclisation gave 2-chloro-12-phenyldibenzo[ b,g][1,8]naphthyridin-11(6 H)-ones. Temperature differences for the formation of the final products were due to the in situ formation of the 2-[(2-benzoyl-4-chlorophenyl)amino]quinolin-4-ones from the chloro and methoxy intermediates. The dibenzonaphthyridin-11-ones were N-methylated at N(6); a methyl group at C(7) was found to hinder the methylation reaction sterically, when a considerably longer reaction time was needed.