To a stirred mixture of 5-hydroxy-6-methoxy-4-methyl-8-nitroquinoline (18 g, 0.077 mol) and 1-bromo-7-phenyl heptane [Example 1a] (15 g, 0.059 mol) in HMPA (45 ml) at 130° C., was added, dropwise, during 1 h, a solution of propylene oxide (18 ml) and Et3N (1 ml). After six more hours, second portions of propylene oxide (4 ml) and Et3N (1 ml) were added and heating was continued for 4 h. The cooled mixture was extracted successively with pet ether, Et2O and Me2CO. The residue returned 2.5 g of starting material (i.e., 5-hydroxy-6-methoxy-4-methyl-8-nitroquinoline). The combined pet ether and Et2O extracts were washed (H2O, dil NaOH, H2O) dried (Na2SO4) and concentrated to a viscous oil. This material was dissolved in CHCl3, placed on a silica gel column (200 g) and eluted with CHCl3. Concentration of the eluates and crystallization of the residue from pet ether (Darco) gave 12 g, (50%) of 6-methoxy-4-methyl-8-nitro-5-(7-phenyl heptoxy) quinoline as yellow crystals, mp 53°-54° C.
