Efficient and facile ‘on-solvent’ multicomponent synthesis of medicinally privileged pyrano[3,2-<italic>c</italic>]pyridine scaffold.

The new type of ‘on-solvent’ multicomponent reaction was found: transformation of benzaldehydes, malononitrile and 4-hydroxy-6-methylpyridin-2(1<italic>H</italic>)-one in the presence of sodium acetate as catalyst in a small amount of ethanol results in formation of substituted 2-amino-7-methyl-5-oxo-4-phenyl-5,6-dihydro-4<italic>H</italic>-pyrano[3,2-<italic>c</italic>]pyridine-3-carbonitriles in excellent 92-99% yields. This novel ‘one-pot’ process opens an efficient and convenient way to functionalize pyrano[3,2-<italic>c</italic>]pyridine systems, which are promising compounds for different biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]