The Gould-Jacobs reaction is an organic synthesis for the preparation of quinolines.[1] In this reaction aniline or an aniline derivative first reacts with malonic acid derivative ethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate with substitution of the ethoxy group by nitrogen. A benzannulation takes place by application of heat to a quinoline. The ester group is hydrolysed by sodium hydroxide to the carboxylic acid and decarboxylation again by application of heat to 4-hydroxyquinoline.
An example is the synthesis of 4,7-dichloroquinoline [2]