Convenient synthesis, antimicrobial evaluation and molecular modeling of some novel quinoline derivatives

α, β-Unsaturated carbonyl compounds 2a, 2b, 3, and 4 were synthesized by the Knoevenagel condensation between 2-substituted quionoline-3-carboxaldehyde 1a and/or 1b with active methylene compounds. In addition, the synthesis of azlactone is achieved starting from 1a and N-acetylglycine. Synthesis of pyridine, pyrene, and pyrimidine derivatives 6–8 were accomplished via one-pot multicomponent reaction of 1b with acetyl acetone, malononitrile, and ammonium acetate; acetophenone, malononitrile, and NaOH; or acetyl acetone and urea in acidic medium. The new synthesized compounds showed good antimicrobial activities. The DFT calculations have been used to predict the electronic properties of the studied compounds.