One-Pot Sequential Synthesis of Alkenylated Dihydroquinolinones and Hexahydroacridinones in Deep Eutectic Solvent Medium

The sequential synthesis of N-heterocycles from saturated ketones poses significant challenges and has rarely been reported. Herein, an efficient synthesis of alkenylated dihydroquinolinones 7 and hexahydroacridinones 8 is achieved from saturated ketones 1 or 2 via dehydrogenation, cyclization, oxidation, and alpha-alkenylation in choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvent (DES) medium. This strategy provides alkenylated dihydroquinolinones 7 and hexahydroacridinones 8 in excellent yield from low-cost, readily available starting materials under environmentally benign conditions. Furthermore, the synthesized compounds (4, 5, 7, and 8) were investigated for their photophysical properties through absorption and emission spectral studies.