A rhodium-catalyzed route for oxidative coupling and cyclization of 2-aminobenzyl alcohol with ketones leading to quinolines

2-Aminobenzyl alcohol undergoes oxidative cyclization with aryl(alkyl), alkyl(alkyl) and cyclic ketones in dioxane at 80 degrees in the presence of a catalytic amount of RhCI(PPh3)(3) along with KOH to afford the corresponding quinolines in good yields. The catalytic pathway seems to be proceeded via a sequence involving initial oxidation of 2-aminobenzyl alcohol to 2-aminobenzaldehyde by a rhodium catalyst, cross aldol reaction between 2-aminobenzaldehyde and ketones, and cyclodehydration.