Multicomponent synthesis of poly-substituted benzo[a]pyrano[2,3-c]phenazine derivatives under microwave heating.

A new one-pot two-step tandem synthesis of highly functionalized benzo[a]pyrano[2,3-c]phenazine derivatives via microwave-assisted multicomponent reactions of 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione, diamines, aldehydes, and malononitrile is reported. The procedures are facile, avoiding time-consuming and costly syntheses, tedious workup, and purifications of precursors, as well as protection/deprotection of functional groups. The method is expected to find application in the combinatorial synthesis of biologically active compounds, since phenazine and chromene motifs have a broad spectrum of biological activities.