One-pot access to a library of structurally diverse nicotinamide derivatives via a three-component formal aza [3 + 3] cycloaddition.

The three-component formal [3 + 3] aza-annulation between chalcones, β-ketoamides, and ammonium acetate in the presence of CAN as a Lewis acid affords good to excellent yields of highly substituted nicotinamides or their fused derivatives. This transformation leads to the formation of one C-C and two C-N bonds in a single synthetic operation and involves up to five individual steps.