An expedient multicomponent assembling of 1-azaxanthones

An efficient one-pot synthesis of 2-[3-(2-amino-4-oxo-4Hchromen-3-yl)-1-arylallylidene]malononitriles as intermediates and 2-aryl-5H-chromeno[2,3-b]pyridin-5-ones as final products comprises Et₃N-catalyzed condensation of alkylidenemalononitriles, 3-formylchromones and hydroxylamine hydrochloride. The transformation involves stages of 1,4-nucleophilic addition, phenolate–nitrile coupling and Mannich-type heterocyclization reactions.