A convenient synthesis of ethyl 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-3,4-disubstituted and c-fused thiophene-5-carboxylates

A convenient one step synthesis of the hitherto unknown ethyl 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-3,4-disubstituted and c-fused thiophene-5-carboxylates was achieved by the condensation of ethyl 4-nitrobenzylthioacetate with a variety of 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds using sodium ethoxide in refluxing ethanol.