The regioselective construction of functionalized quinolines by the three-component reactions of enaminones, aldehydes and anilines is accomplished. Unlike conventional Povarov reactions employing terminal alkynes or alkenes as C3–C4 fragment sources which provide 2,4-disubstituted quinolines, the present method allows fast and regioselective formation of 2,3-disubstituted quinolines as a modified new version of the Povarov reaction.