Catalyst and Additive-Free Synthesis of Fluoroalkoxyquinolines

A nucleophilic substitution approach is developed for the synthesis of C4 fluoroalkoxyquinolines from 4-haloquinolines. HFIP and TFE were utilized as a nucleophile. The method is also applicable for 2-chloroquinolines, 1-chloroisoquinoline and 2-chlorobenzimidazole. Control experiment revealed that substitution occurs only at C2 and C4 position of quinoline.