A novel quinoline synthesis starting with 2-isocyanostyrene derivatives is described. The treatment of 2-isocyanostyrene derivatives with aldehydes (or acetone) in the presence of a catalytic amount of diethyl ether-borontrifluoride afforded quinolinederivatives carrying a 1-hydroxyalkyl substituent at the 2-position. The use of acetaldehyde diethyl acetal or phenyloxirane as an electrophile under