Facile four-component domino reactions for the synthesis of 2,6-diaryl-4-(1H-indol-3-yl)-3-cyanopyridines

A series of novel 2,6-diaryl-4-(1H-indol-3-yl)-3-cyanopyridines was obtained in good yields from the domino reactions of 3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-3-oxopropanenitrile, 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenylbutane-1,3-dione, and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of ammonium acetate under solvent-free condition. This transformation involves the formation of two CC and two CN bonds leading to the creation of a six-membered ring in a one-pot operation.