A novel three-component reaction for the synthesis of new 4-azafluorenone derivatives

Reaction of arylidenemalononitriles, 1,3-indanedione, and mercaptoacetic acid or 4-methylbenzenethiol is successfully carried out using microwave heating. It is an efficient and promising synthetic strategy to build the indenopyridine skeleton. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.