Facile access to 2‐amino‐4‐aryl‐5H‐chromeno[4,3‐b]pyridine‐3‐carbonitriles through a strategy of one‐pot Michael/cyclization reaction

Abstract An unprecedented cascade Michael/cyclization reaction of 4‐chromanone derivatives, aldehydes, and 2‐cyanothioacetamide was presented for the preparation of distinctive 2‐amino‐4‐aryl‐5 H ‐chromeno[4,3‐ b ]pyridine‐3‐carbonitriles promoted by ammonium acetate. The optimized reaction conditions were used for the synthesis of 2‐amino‐4‐aryl‐5 H ‐chromeno[4,3‐ b ]pyridine‐3‐carbonitrile derivatives in medium to high yields. The synthetic method features a convenient operational process, easy access to raw material as well as high atom economy.