Two viable reaction mechanisms exist for this reaction. In the first mechanism 2-amino substituted carbonyl compound 1 and carbonyl compound 2 react in a rate-limiting step to aldol adduct 3. This intermediate loses water in an elimination reaction to unsaturated carbonyl compound4 and then loses water again in imine formation to quinoline 7. In the second mechanism the first step is Schiff base formation to 5 followed by Aldol reaction to 6 and elimination to 7.[11]
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^Wu, J.; Xia, H.-G.; Gao, K. (2006). "Molecular iodine: A highly efficient catalyst in the synthesis of quinolines via Friedländer annulation". Org. Biomol. Chem.4 (1): 126–129. doi:10.1039/b514635f. PMID16358006.
^Varala, R.; Enugala, R.; Adapa, S. R. (2006). "Efficient and Rapid Friedlander Synthesis of Functionalized Quinolines Catalyzed by Neodymium(III) Nitrate Hexahydrate". Synthesis. 2006 (22): 3825–3830. doi:10.1055/s-2006-950296.
^Bergstrom, F. W. (1944). "Heterocyclic Nitrogen Compounds. Part IIA. Hexacyclic Compounds: Pyridine, Quinoline, and Isoquinoline". Chem. Rev.35 (2): 77–277. doi:10.1021/cr60111a001.
^Jose Marco-Contelles; Elena Perez-Mayoral; Abdelouahid Samadi; Marıa do Carmo Carreiras; Elena Soriano (2009). "Recent Advances in the Friedlander Reaction". Chemical Reviews. 109 (6): 2652–71. doi:10.1021/cr800482c. PMID19361199.