Synthesis and Reactions of 3-Aroyl Derivatives of 4-Hydroxy-2- quinolones and 4-Hydroxycoumarin.

3-Aroyl-4-hydroxy-2-quinolones 4 and 11 can be synthesized starting with 1 or 9 via Fries rearrangement of the corresponding esters 3 and 10, catalyzed by potassium cyanide and 18-crown-6. A one pot procedure is presented in which the esters do not need to be isolated. Reduction of the aryl ketones 4 and 11 with zinc dust leads to the benzyl derivatives 5 and 12. Reaction of the aryl ketones 4 and 11 with hydroxylamine and subsequent heating of the crude product leads via thermal Beckmann rearrangement and dehydration to oxazoloquinolones 7 and 14. 2-Aroyloxypyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones 17 and 20 could not be converted to the corresponding ketones by Fries rearrangement.