Some new metal dodecyl sulfates were prepared by the reaction of sodium dodecyl sulfate and the corresponding metal nitrates. All of the prepared salts catalyzed the synthesis of quinoline from o-aminoaryl ketones and ketones or beta-diketones. Among the metal dodecyl sulfates, zirconium tetrakisdodecyl sulfate, was superior to others. Polysubstituted quinolines were synthesized from the same starting materials in the presence of a catalytic amount of Zr(DS)(4) in good to high yields in water under reflux conditions. Zr(DS)(4) could be recovered and reused. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.