1-Methylimidazole-Catalyzed Regioselective Synthesis of Highly Substituted Benzenes

Abstract

A novel 1-methylimidazole-catalyzed synthesis of 4-amino-3,5-dicyano-6-arylphthalates is described. A one-pot, three-component reaction between arylidenemalononitriles, dialkyl ­acetylenedicarboxylates, and malononitrile gave highly substituted benzenes in good to excellent yields.