Efficient stepwise and one pot three-component synthesis of 2-amino-4-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)thiophene-3-carbonitriles

Environmentally benign conditions have been developed for the synthesis of 2-amino-4-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)thiophene-3-carbonitriles (3) starting from 3-acetyl-2H-chromen-2-one (1) through the intermediacy of 2-(1-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)ethylidene)malononitrile (2) using the Knoevenagel condensation followed by the Gewald reaction. Alternatively, 3 could also be prepared in a one pot method by treating equimolar amounts of 1, malononitrile, and elemental sulfur. The merits of this preparation are mild reaction conditions, easy work-up procedure, and good yields.