2-Oxobenzo[h]chromene: a novel entry for the synthesis of functionalized angular polycyclic azaarenes

An efficient and short synthesis of (5,6-dihydrobenzo[h]pyrido[2,1-b]quinazolin-2-ylidene)acetonitriles, (5,6-dihydrobenzo[h]pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazolin-2-ylidene)acetonitriles and (5,6-dihydrobenzimidazo[1,2-b]benzo[f]isoquinolin-7-yl)acetonitriles in good yields is delineated through base catalyzed ring transformation of 4-(piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxo-5,6-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitriles with 2-amino-pyridine, 2-aminopyrazine and (imidazo-2-yl)acetonitrile.