Abstract

The fusion of a pyridine and a benzene ring produces two heterocyclic aromatic systems usually referred to by their common names, quinoline and isoquinoline. In addition to the chemistry to be expected, this combination opens a wide range of additional possibilities. It is therefore not surprising that both quinoline and isoquinoline have been the subject of extensive studies ranging from the theoretical to the most applied. The dye and photographic industries, the metallurgical, analytical, and polymer sciences all provide extensive examples. However, it continues to be the medical field and the pharmaceutical industry that provides the major driving force for an impressive array of studies of the synthesis and properties of molecules containing these structures. The toxicity of these compounds is sufficient to warrant care in their handling. The literature has been reviewed through March, 2005.