Potassium phthalimide promoted green multicomponent tandem synthesis of 2-amino-4H-chromenes and 6-amino-4H-pyran-3-carboxylates

A one-pot efficient, green, practical, and environmentally friendly multicomponent synthesis of 5-oxo-4-aryl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromenes, ethyl-6-amino-4-aryl-5-cyano-2-methyl-4H-pyran-3-carboxylates as well as 2-amino-4-aryl-7-hydroxy-4H-chromene-3-carbonitriles via tandem the Knoevenagel-cyclocondensation has been described in the presence of a green, low-cost, mild, efficient, and commercially available potassium phthalimide as the organocatalyst. This technique is a safe and ecofriendly approach to the synthesis of different 4H-chromens and 4H-pyrans that offers many merits including short reaction times, high yields, straightforward work-up, and no use of hazardous organic solvents.