Concise synthesis of fused polycyclic quinolines

β-(2-Aminophenyl)-α,β-ynones react with enamines of cyclic ketones by domino [2+2]cycloaddition/annelation reaction giving rise to bicyclo[4.2.0]-octane[7,8-c]-2-aryl quinolines or to c-fused quinolines. The reactivity of ynones towards acyclic enamines and thermal rearrangement of tetracyclic to the corresponding tricyclic derivatives are also described.