Cinnolines having electron-withdrawing substituents at 4-position reacted with ynamines to give naphthalene derivatives and/or quinoline derivatives through [4+2] cycloaddition followed by elimination of nitrogen or hydrogen cyanide.
2-Aroylquinoxalines (5, 6), 1-aroylphthalazines (10, 11), and 4-aroylcinnolines (13) were synthesized by using arenecarbaldehydes (2) in the presence of an azolium salt (1) in moderate to good yields. 1,3-Dimethylimidazolium iodide (1a) and sodium sulfinate (7) were also effective catalysts in this aroylation.