A new synthesis of naphthyridinones and quinolinones: palladium-catalyzed amidation of o-carbonyl-substituted aryl halides.

[reaction: see text] An alternative to the Friedlander condensation for the synthesis of naphthyridinones and quinolinones has been discovered. Palladium-catalyzed amidation of halo aromatics substituted in the ortho position by a carbonyl functional group or its equivalent with primary or secondary amides leads to the formation of substituted naphthyridinones and quinolinones.