Heterocyclization of michael adducts of β-diketones with arylmethylidene derivatives of malononitrile dimers

Abstract

Reaction of arylmethylidene derivatives of malononitrile dimer with 1,3-cyclohexanediones in anhydrous methanol in the presence of sodium methylate as catalyst affords 4-amino-5-aryl-2-methoxy-6-oxo-5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydrobenzo[b][1,8]naphthyridine-3-carbonitrile. In the presence of strong electron-donor substituents in the benzene ring the reaction takes another route resulting in 4-amino-2-aryl-6-methoxypyridine-3,5-dicarbonitriles.