Catalysts were evaluated on the preparation of 2-substituted quinolines, 1,8-naphthyridines, and chromone derivatives from unmodified methyl ketones and o-aminoaromatic aldehydes. While oxide catalysts yielded the 2,3-dialkyl substituted products, cyclic secondary amines provided the 2-alkylsubstutited products regioselectively. In particular, pyrrolidine derivatives provided the highest regioselectivity favoring the 2-substituted products. The most reactive and regioselective catalyst was the bicyclic pyrrolidine derivative, TABO (1,3,3-trimethyl-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1] octane), yielding 1,8-naphthyridines with as high as 96:4 regioselectivity. Regioselectivity increased with slow addition of the methyl ketone substrate to the reaction mixture, and was positively related to temperature. Isolated yields of single regioisomers were typically 65-84%, while observed regioselectivities were greater than or equal to90:10 for 1,8-naphthyridines and greater than or equal to84:16 for quinolines.