Ceric Ammonium Nitrate: An Efficient Catalyst for One-Pot Synthesis of 2,2,4-Trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinolines

Ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) catalyzed the one-pot synthesis of 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline derivatives from substituted anilines and acetone via a modified Skraup reaction. The methodology was used to synthesize a novel dihydroquinoline-based compound derived from an anti-inflammatory agent nimesulide.