Reactivity of functionalized N,S-ketene acetal: regioselective construction of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran and chromeno[2,3-b]quinoline derivatives.

Regioselective synthesis of functionalized tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyrans has been developed by multicomponent reactions (MCRs) and tandem [3 + 3] annulations of β-benzoylthioacetanilides or β-(2-haloaroyl)thioacetanilides as valuable sources with aromatic aldehydes and 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione catalyzed by triethylamine. This MCR followed by a postcondensation cyclization via an intramolecular S(N)Ar in the presence of K(2)CO(3) led to an unprecedented novel chromeno[2,3-b]quinoline framework containing an important chromene moiety in good yields. The reactions were very mild, convenient, and o-selective to form new fused tetracyclic target molecules.