Synthesis of 14π-electron peri-annelated tricyclic heteroaromatic systems based on 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

Methyl 1-aryl-7-nitro-1H-thiopyrano[4,3,2-cd]indazol-4-carboxylates 2 and 1,5-diaryl-7-nitro-1,5-dihydropyrazolo[3,4,5-de]- cinnolines 4 were prepared based on 1-aryl-3-formyl-4,6-dinitro-1H-indazoles 1, which were synthesised previously starting from 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene.