(1) Russian Academy of Sciences, N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, 47 Leninsky prosp., 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
Abstract:
2,7-Diaryl-3-cyano-4-methylpyrano4,3-b]pyridin-5-ones were synthesized by Ni(acac)2-catalyzed condensation of aroylacetonitriles with acetoacetates. The competitive Knoevenagel reaction gave 6-aryl-5-cyano-4-methylpyran-2-ones as by-products. A preparative method for the synthesis of the latter compounds in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) as a catalyst was proposed.