A short and versatile synthesis of a series of 3-substituted -2-aminoq
uinolines was accomplished in good yields starting from 2-nitrobenzald
ehide. Organic phosphonates were used as key synthetic intermediates a
nd in some cases aminoacids as readily available starting materials. T
he finals two key steps of the sequence involving a reduction and ring
closure that led to the 2-aminoquinoline skeleton were carried out in
a ''one pot'' procedure using SnCl2.2H(2)O.