Microwave irradiation has been used for a rapid and efficient synthesis of quinoline‐4‐carboxylic acids 5a–g and 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroacridine‐9‐carboxylic acid (6) from the reaction of isatins 1–3 with acyclic and cyclic ketones in basic medium. 2‐Hydroxyquinoline‐4‐carboxylic acid (11) was also obtained by irradiating a mixture of isatin 1 and malonic acid in AcOH. The esters of 5f and 11 and their respective hydrazides 8 and 13 were also prepared under MWI.