Antihypertensive compounds of the formula III ##STR1## wherein X is chloro or trifluoromethyl; wherein R is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, inclusive; wherein R.sub.1 is phenyl or phenyl substituted with one or two alkyl, alkoxy, trifluoromethyl or halo substituents, in which alkyl and alkoxy are each of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, inclusive, and halo is fluoro, chloro or bromo, are prepared by reacting a 4-chloro-7-substituted quinoline of formula I with a compound of the formula II ##STR2## wherein R and R.sub.1 are defined as above. The pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salts of compounds of formula III can also be used as antihypertensive agents.