When 2,5,8(1H)-quinolinetriones were supported on silica gel and treat
ed with 1-dimethylamino-1-azadienes in excess, followed by rapid chrom
atography, the corresponding 5,8-dihydro-1,8-diazaanthracene-2,9,10-tr
iones or 1,8-diazaanthracene-2,9,10-triones were obtained, normally in
excellent yields. This procedure minimizes or completely prevents the
addition of dimethylamine to the starting quinone, a problem that has
seriously limited in the past the usefulness of 1-dimethylamino-1-aza
dienes as heterodienes for quinones. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by E
lsevier Science Ltd