A simple, green, and efficient method is introduced for the synthesis of 2-aryl-2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-ones under mild reaction conditions with improved yields by intramolecular cyclization
of o-aminochalcones with zirconyl nitrate [Zn(O)(NO3)2·nH2O] as a water-tolerant Lewis-acid catalyst.
Key words
zirconyl nitrate - dihydroquinolinones - aminochalcones - cyclization - Lewis acids