A synthesis of quinoline derivatives is described via reaction between ethyl bromopyruvate (¼ ethyl 3-bromo-2-oxopropanoate), acetylenedicarboxylate, and isatin (¼ 1H-indole-2,3-dione) in the presence of NaH as a base. Also, these reactions were performed without ethyl bromopyruvate. The reaction in the presence of ethyl bromopyruvate provides regioselectively a quinoline with the ethyl ester group in 4-position. In the absence of ethyl bromopyruvate, the reaction leads to functionalized quinolines with the same ester groups in 2-, 3-, and 4-positions.Introduction. -Heterocyclic aromatic aza compounds, especially quinoline derivatives, are widely present in several natural compounds (e.g., Cinchona alkaloids) [1 -3] and pharmacologically active substances displaying a broad range of biological activity [4 -6]. Quinoline compounds have been found to possess antiasthmatic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antihypertensive properties [7 -9]. In addition to the medicinal applications, quinolines have been employed in the study of bioorganic and bioorganometallic processes [10]. Quinolines are also known for their formation of conjugated molecules and polymers that combine enhanced electronic, optoelectronic, or nonlinear optical properties with excellent mechanical properties [11]. A number of methods have been reported for the synthesis of quinolines involving a variety of metal catalysts and Lewis acids [12 -15]. Especially the Pfitzinger reaction [16] of isatins with a-methylidene carbonyl compounds is widely used for the synthesis of physiologically active derivatives of substituted quinoline-4-carboxylic acids [17]. However, many of these procedures are not fully satisfactory with regard to operational simplicity, cost of the reagent, drastic reaction conditions, and relatively low yield. Therefore, a simple, general, and efficient procedure is still in demand for the preparation of these important heterocyclic compounds.