Chloroform → 3-Benzoyl-4-chloro-8-methoxyquinoline

3-Benzoyl-8-methoxy-4(1H)-quinolone (3.2 g, 0.011 mol) was heated under reflux in a mixture of chloroform (50 ml) and phosphorus oxychloride (7 ml) for 45 minutes. The mixture was cooled and poured into a stirred mixture of sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, ice and chloroform. The organic phase was separated, washed with sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, water and brine. The dried solution was filtered and evaporated to afford 3-benzoyl-4-chloro-8-methoxyquinoline as a yellow oil (3.5 g, 100%).