An efficient one-pot, three-component synthesis of indeno[1,2-b]quinoline-9,11(6H,10H)-dione, acridine-1,8(2H,5H)-dione and quinoline-3-carbonitrile derivatives from enaminones.

An efficient one-pot, three-component method for the preparation of indeno[1,2-b]quinoline-9,11(6H,10H)-dione, acridine-1,8(2H,5H)-dione and various multi-substituted quinoline-3-carbonitrile derivatives has been developed through the Michael addition to enaminones, which was achieved by both microwave irradiation and conventional heating.