Unexpected behavior of enaminones: Interesting new routes to 1,6-naphthyridines, 2-oxopyrrolidines and pyrano[4,3,2-de][1,6]naphthyridines

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules18010276

Reaction of enaminones 1a-d with 2-Aminoprop-1-ene-1,1,3-tricarbonitrile (2) in the presence of AcOH/NH4OAc afforded 7-Amino-5-oxo-5,6-dihydro-1,6- naphthyridine- 8-carbonitrile derivatives 9a-d. On the other hand, 2-Aminopyrano[4,3,2-de] [1,6]naphthyridi

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules18010276

Molecules 2013, 18, 276-286; doi:10.3390/molecules18010276
OPEN ACCESS
molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
Article
Unexpected Behavior of Enaminones: Interesting New
Routes to 1,6-Naphthyridines, 2-Oxopyrrolidines and
Pyrano[4,3,2-de][1,6]naphthyridines
Moustafa Sherief Moustafa 1,*, Saleh Mohammed Al-Mousawi 1,*, Noha Mohamed Hilmy 2,
Yehia A. Ibrahim 1, Johannes C. Liermann 3, Herbert Meier 3 and Mohamed Hilmy Elnagdi 1
1
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kuwait, P.O. Box 5969, Safat 13060,
Kuwait; E-Mails: yehiaibrahim2002@yahoo.com (Y.A.I.); shelmy1941@yahoo.com (M.H.E.)
2
Women Students-Medical Studies & Sciences Sections, Department of Chemistry, College of
Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia;
E-Mail: elnagdinoha@yahoo.com
3
Johannes Gutenberg—Universität Mainz, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Mainz, Germany;
E-Mail: hmeier@mail.uni-mainz.de
* Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed;
E-Mails: mostafa_msm@hotmail.com (M.S.M.); salehalmousawi@hotmail.com (S.M.A.-M.);
Tel.: +965-2498-7081 (M.S.M & S.M.A.-M.); Fax: +965-2481-6482 (M.S.M & S.M.A.-M.).
Received: 16 October 2012; in revised form: 22 October 2012 / Accepted: 26 November 2012 /
Published: 27 December 2012
Abstract: Reaction of enaminones 1a–d with 2-aminoprop-1-ene-1,1,3-tricarbonitrile (2)
in the presence of AcOH/NH4OAc afforded 7-amino-5-oxo-5,6-dihydro-1,6-naphthyridine-
8-carbonitrile derivatives 9a–d. On the other hand, 2-aminopyrano[4,3,2-de]
[1,6]naphthyridine-3-carbonitriles 20a–c,e were the only obtained products from the
reactions of 1a–d with 2 in the presence of AcOH/NaOAc, while 1d afforded [3,5-bis-(4-
chloro-benzoyl)-phenyl]-(4-chloro-phenyl)-methanone 21 under the same condition. The
reaction of 2 with diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in the presence of AcOH/NH4OAc
afforded (4-cyano-5-dicyanomethylene-2-oxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-acetic acid
ethyl ester 15B.
Keywords: enaminones; 3-amino-2-cyanopent-2-enedinitrile; 7-amino-5-oxo-5,6-dihydro-
1,6-naphthyridine-8-carbonitrile; 2-aminoprop-1-ene-1,1,3-tricarbonitrile

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1. Introduction
During the last decade we have been involved in a program aimed at exploring the synthetic
potentials of enaminones [1] as building blocks for polyfunctionally substituted aromatics and
heteroaromatics [1–3]. We have in the past successfully developed syntheses of polysubstituted
benzenes [4,5] and polysubstituted pyridines [6,7] utilizing enaminones 1a–d as starting materials. In
the present article we report our further results in this area where a novel one pot synthesis of 7-amino-
5-oxo-5,6-dihydro-1,6-naphthyridine-8-carbonitriles 9a–d, 2-aminopyrano[4,3,2-de][1,6]naphthyrid-
ine-3-carbonitrile derivatives 20a–c,e and (4-cyano-5-dicyanomethylene-2-oxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-
pyrrol-3-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester 15B could be achieved. To our knowledge only one derivative of
the 2-aminopyrano[4,3,2-de][1,6]naphthyridine-3-carbonitrile system has been reported, prepared via a
multistep route [8]. The newly synthesized 2-aminopyrano[4,3,2-de][1,6]naphthyridine-3-carbonitrile
derivatives 20a–c,e seem interesting for biological activity investigations as investigations on such
polynuclear aromatics are rare [8].
2. Results and Discussion
Although the reaction of enaminone 1c and 3-amino-2-cyanopent-2-enedinitrile (2) in refluxing
acetic acid in presence of ammonium acetate (NH4OAc) has been reported earlier [1,9] to afford
2,4-diamino-5-benzoylisophthalonitrile, with molecular formula C15H10N4O and molecular mass M+ = 262,
we found, however, that enaminone 1c and compound 2 react in acetic acid in the presence of
NH4OAc to yield a completely different product with the same molecular formula and molecular mass.
Both starting compounds the enaminone 1 and 3-amino-2-cyanopent-2-enedinitrile (2) are bifunctional
reactants. The carbonyl group of 1 can form an imine (1 + 2  3) or participate in a Knoevenagel
reaction with the methylene group of 2 (1 + 2  6). Michael-type additions 1+2  4 or 1 + 2  5 are
other alternatives. The subsequent ring closure reactions can lead to the pyridine derivatives 7 or 8.
Finally, the 1,6-naphthyridine systems 9–12 can also be generated. The yields obtained from 1a–d are
between 75 and 90%. We have depicted all possible end products that could be obtained from reacting
1a–d and 2 in Scheme 1 as secondary carbamides, but their tautomers having a hydrogen atom bound
to N-1 or to the oxygen atom have to be considered as well. The structure determination of the reaction
products of 1a–d and 3-amino-2-cyanopent-2-enedinitrile (2) proved to be very difficult, because all
1
twelve possible 1,6-naphthyridine derivatives should have similar H- and 13C-NMR spectra.
Therefore, we performed a series of 2D NMR measurements: (1H,1H)COSY, (1H,13C)HSQC,
(1H,13C)HMBC, (1H,15N)HSQC, (1H,15N)HMBC, and INADEQUATE. The final decision was made in
favor of the structures 9a–d. Figures 1 and 2 showed the 1H, 13C and 15N chemical shifts and the results
of the 2D-INADEQUATE and the two HMBC measurements which represent the basis for the
assignment of the chemical shifts (Scheme 1).

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Scheme 1. Formation of compounds 9a–d.
CN
R
1
N
R
NH2
N
CN
- H2O
NH
6
CN
R
5
O
4
CN
R
NMe2
3
N
CN
CN
+ H2O
9a-d (75-90%)
- HNMe2
CN
R
CN
O
NH2
R
N
O
CN
O
7
Me2N
- H2O
NH
CN
Me2N
CN
1
NH2
4
NH4OAc
+
10
AcOH
R
H2N
CN
CN
R
N
O
CN
O
- H2O
NC
CN
NH
NH2
Me2N
N
2
H
CN
R
CN
5
CN
CN
R
1
+ H2O
11
R
a
b
c
2-thienyl
2-furyl
Phenyl
CN
NH
CN
R
NH2
NH
O
- HNMe2
d
CN
p-ClC6H4
Me2N
H2N
8
- H2O
CN
N
6
CN
12
1
1
Figure 1. Upper part: (13C, H)- and (15N, H) couplings nJ (n = 2–4) according to the
crosspeaks observed in the HMBC measurements of 9c. Lower part: Assignment of all 1H,
13C and 15N signals of 9c. The  values obtained in CD3SOCD3 at room temperature are related
to TMS and NH3 (liquid). The measurements were performed at 14.1 T (600 MHz for 1H).

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1
1
Figure 2. Upper part: (13C, H)- and (15N, H) couplings nJ (n = 2–4) according to the
crosspeaks observed in the HMBC measurements of 9d. Lower part: Assignment of all 1H, 13C
and 15N signals of 9d. The  values obtained in CD3SOCD3 at room temperature are related to
TMS and NH3 (liquid). The measurements were performed at 14.1 T (600 MHz for 1H).
In order to extend this finding further we reacted 3-amino-2-cyanopent-2-enedinitrile (2) with
diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (13) in the presence of AcOH/NH4OAc. In this case, however, ethyl
(4-cyano-5-dicyanomethylene-2-oxo-pyrrolidin-3-ylidene) acetate 15B was obtained as indicated by
an X-ray crystal structure determination (Figure 3) [10]. It is believed that compound 2 reacts with 13
to initially afford adduct 14 that cyclizes preferably to the pyrrolidine 15 rather than the alternative
pyridine derivative 16 (Scheme 2). Although 15 has been shown to exist as a solid, in DMSO solution
1
only form 15B exists, as indicated by the H-NMR data that showed a singlet at  = 5.50 ppm for the
methylene proton and a broad signal at  = 2.48 ppm for proton of the dicyanomyl moiety.
Figure 3. X-ray crystal structure of compound 15A.
We conducted the same reactions of enaminones 1a–c,e with 3-amino-2-cyanopent-2-enedinitrile
(2) in the presence of AcOH/NaOAc. This reaction afforded in this case a different product with
molecular formula C20H10N4O2S2 and molecular mass M+ = 402. It is believed that compound 1a
reacted with 3-amino-2-cyanopent-2-enedinitrile (2) to form the highly unsaturated intermediates 17a–c,e
and their anions 18a–c,e, respectively (Scheme 3).

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Scheme 2. Formation of compound 15B.
O
H2N
CN
CO2Et
H2N
CN
CN
EtO
EtO
DABCO/EtOH
+
CN
or AcOH / NH4OAc
stirring 1 hr
CN
CN
CO2Et
O
14
2
13
CN
CN
NC
NC
EtO
N
CN
CN
CN
HN
HN
O
CN
O
CN
CO2Et
CO2Et
CO2Et
15A (85%)
15B (70%)
16
The intermediate 18 can undergo a cyclic -electron shift (6  3 + 3, valence isomerization) to
19a–c,e. Protonation of 19a–c,e, followed by 1,5-H-shift and dehydrogenation lead finally to the
2-aminopyrano[4,3,2-de][1,6]naphthyridine-3-carbonitrile 20a–c,e. Yields of 20a–c,e amounted to
85–92% when 2:1-mixtures of 1 and 2 were refluxed in AcOH/NaOAc. The reaction of 1d with 2
under the same conditions afforded [3,5-bis-(4-chloro-benzoyl)-phenyl]-(4-chloro-phenyl)-methanone
21 previously obtain by upon refluxing 1d in AcOH. It has been previously observed that 1d readily
trimerise on attempted condensation with nucleophils [12].
Scheme 3. Formation of compounds 20a–c,e.
O
R
1d
O
O
AcOH/NaOAc
R
R
N
21
N
O
N

R
N
H
O
C
N
H2N
CN
CN
N
2
AcOH/NaOAc
reflux 2 hrs
- H+

N
O
N
+
H3C
N
NC
O
CH3
R
1
2
R

R
O
R
17a-e
18a-e
-
N
R
N
N
1
H2N
8
+ H+
1,5-H shift
2-thionyl
2-furyl
Phenyl
p-ClC6H4
p-OCH3C6H4
a
b
c
d
e
9
N
7
N
1
N
N
6
-
H2
O
O
2
5
3
R
4
R
O
O
R
R
19a-e
20a-c,e

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The structure determination of 20 was based on 2D NMR measurements (COSY, HSQC, HMBC
and (1H, 15N) HMBC) of 20a and on a crystal structure analysis of 20c (Figures 4 and 5) [11].
Figure 4. Crystal structure of 20c.
n
Figure 5. Left part: (13C,1H) couplings J (n = 2–4) according to the crosspeaks observed
1
13
in HMBC measurement of 20a. Right part: Assignment of all H and C signals and one
15N signal of 20a. The  values obtained in CD3SOCD3 at room temperature are related to
TMS and NH3 (liquid). The measurements were performed at 14.1 T (600 MHz for 1H).
7.28
7.95
128.9
H
131.6
H
7.87
S
129.3
S
H
H
134.1
7.47
98.3
O
O
O
154.0
O
S
8.16
162.1
H
S
N
143.7 184.8
104.0
140.9
135.8
N
118.1
160.4
NH2
7.87
N
NH2
7.31
H
H
N
156.2
275.5
77.1
CN
115.9
H
7.79
CN
8.98
129.00
136.1
157.2

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3. Experimental
3.1. General
Melting points are reported uncorrected and were determined with a Sanyo (Gallaenkamp)
instrument. Infrared spectra were recorded using KBr pellets and a Perkin-Elmer 2000 FT–IR
instrument. 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra were determined by using a Bruker DPX instrument at 600 MHz
1
for H-NMR and 150 MHz for 13C-NMR and either CDCl3 or DMSO-d6 solutions with TMS as
internal standards. Chemical shifts are reported in δ (ppm). Mass spectra were measured using VG
Autospec Q MS 30 and MS 9 (AEI) spectrometer, with the EI (70 EV) mode. Elemental analyses were
carried out by using a LEOCHNS-932 Elemental Analyzer. X-ray crystal structure determined by
using a Single Crystal X-ray Crystallography-Rigaku Rapid II & Bruker X8 Prospector system.
3.2. General Procedure for the Synthesis of 9a–d
A mixture of enaminone 1a–d (0.01 mol) and 3-amino-2-cyanopent-2-enedinitrile (2, 1.32 g, 0.01 mol)
in AcOH (25 mL)/NH4OAc (1 g) was heated under reflux for 2 h (followed until completion by TLC
using 1:1 ethyl acetate–petroleum ether as eluent). The mixture was then cooled and poured onto ice-water.
The solid, so formed, was collected by filtration and recrystallized from AcOH to give yellow crystals.
7-Amino-5-oxo-2-(thienyl)-5,6-dihydro-1,6-naphthyridine-8-carbonitrile (9a). Yield 75%; mp.
291–292 °C. Anal. Calcd. for C13H8N4OS (268.29): C, 58.20; H, 3.01; N, 20.88; S, 11.95%. Found: C,
58.17; H, 3.13; N, 20.65; S, 11.92%; IR (KBr, cm−1): 3471 (NH), 3363, 3295 (NH2) 2252 (CN), 1652
(CO); 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 7.05 (br, 2H, NH2, D2O exchangeable), 7.21 (t, 1H, J = 4.0, thienyle-H),
7.69 (d, 1H, J = 8.0, CH), 7.77 (d, 1H, J = 4.0, thienyl-H), 7.94 (d, 1H, J = 4.0, thienyl-H), 8.22 (d, 1H,
J = 8.0, CH), 11.22 (br, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable); 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 160.6, 156.1, 155.2,
154.4, 143.6, 136.2, 130.9, 128.6, 127.7, 116.2, 113.5, 112.56, 67.4. MS: m/z (%) 268 (M+, 40), 256
(35), 241 (15), 213 (25), 185 (25), 169 (20), 129 (55), 97 (40), 73 (100).
7-Amino-2-(furyl)-5-oxo-5,6-dihydro-1,6-naphthyridine-8-carbonitrile (9b). Yield 80%; mp. 287–289 °C.
Anal. Calcd. for C13H8N4O2 (252.23): C, 61.90; H, 3.20; N, 22.21%. Found: C, 61.84; H, 3.31; N,
22.32%; IR (KBr, cm−1): 3424 (NH), 3343, 3240 (NH2), 2214 (CN), 1662 (CO); 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 6.72 (t, 1H, J = 4.0, furyl-H), 7.05 (br, 2H, NH2, D2O exchangeable), 7.25 (d, 1H,
J = 4.0, furyl-H), 7.51 (d, 1H, J = 8.0, CH), 7.94 (d, 1H, J = 4.0, furyl-H), 8.25 (d, 1H, J = 8.0, CH),
11.24 (br, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable); 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 160.1, 155.3, 154.5, 152.4, 152.3,
145.7, 136.3, 116.4, 113.3, 112.7, 112.6, 111.9, 67.5. MS: m/z (%) 252 (M+, 100), 224 (20), 195 (10),
73 (90).
7-Amino-5-oxo-2-phenyl-5,6-dihydro-1,6-naphthyridine-8-carbonitrile (9c). Yield 90%; mp. 253–255 °C.
Anal. Calcd. for C15H10N4O (262.27): C, 68.69; H, 3.84; N, 21.36%. Found: C, 68.65; H, 3.75; N,
21.40%; IR (KBr, cm−1): 3325 (NH), 3251, 3209 (NH2), 2209 (CN), 1673 (CO); 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 7.07 (br, 2H, NH2, D2O exchangeable), 7.52–7.53 (m, 3H, Ph-H), 7.75 (d, 1H, J = 8.0, CH),
8.20–8.21 (m, 2H, Ph-H), 8.28 (d, 1H, J = 8.0, CH), 11.27 (br, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable);
13C-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 160.8, 160.2, 155.2, 154.3, 137.5, 136.4, 130.3, 128.8 (2C), 127.2 (2C),

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116.5, 114.8, 113.1, 67.8. MS: m/z (%) 262 (M+, 100), 234 (15), 217 (10), 192 (5), 164 (10), 129 (10),
83 (10), 73 (25).
7-Amino-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-oxo-5,6-dihydro-1,6-naphthyridine-8-carbonitrile (9d). Yield 90%; mp.
275–276 °C. Anal. Calcd. for C15H9ClN4O (296.72): C, 60.72; H, 3.06; N, 18.88%. Found: C, 60.70;
H, 3.11; N, 18.87%; IR (KBr, cm−1): 3436 (NH), 3324, 3216 (NH2), 2211 (CN), 1678 (CO); 1H-NMR
(DMSO-d6): δ = 7.06 (s, 2H, NH2, D2O exchangeable), 7.54 (d, 2H, Ph-H), 7.69 (d, 1H, J = 8.0, CH),
13
8.17 (d, 2H, Ph-H), 8.23 (d, 1H, J = 8.0, CH), 11.25 (br, 1H, NH, D2O exchangeable); C-NMR
(DMSO-d6): δ = 160.7, 158.8, 155.2, 154.2, 136.4, 136.2, 135.2, 129.0 (2C), 128.8 (2C), 116.4, 114.6,
113.2, 67.8. MS: m/z (%) 296 (M+, 100), 268 (20), 216 (15), 189 (15), 164 (10), 130 (10), 88 (15),
73 (20).
Synthesis of (4-cyano-5-dicyanomethylene-2-oxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-acetic acid ethyl ester
(15B). A mixture of 3-amino-2-cyanopent-2-enedinitrile (2, 1.32 g, 0.01 mol) and diethyl
acetylenedicarboxylate (13, 1.70 g, 0.01 mol) in AcOH (25 mL)/NH4OAc (1 g) was refluxed for 2 h
(followed until completion by TLC using 1:1 ethyl acetate–petroleum ether as eluent). The mixture
was cooled and then was poured onto ice-water. The solid, so formed, was collected by filtration and
recrystallized from EtOH to give orange crystals, yield 70%; mp. 200–202 °C. Anal. Calcd. for
C12H8N4O3 (256.22): C, 56.25; H, 3.15; N, 21.87%. Found: C, 56.22; H, 3.27; N, 22.00%; IR (KBr, cm−1):
1
3363 (NH), 2223 (CN), 2211 (2CN), 1695 (CO), 1653 (CO); H-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 1.22 (t, 3H,
J = 8.0, CH3), 2.48 (br, 1H, , J = 8.0, CH), 4.10 (q, 2H, CH2), 5.50 (s, 1H, CH), 10.84 (br, 1H, NH,
D2O exchangeable); 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 169.0, 165.8, 161.3, 138.5, 117.2, 116.0, 115.6, 100.1
(2C), 68.2, 59.0, 14.2. MS: m/z (%) 256 (M+, 50), 211 (15), 184 (75), 156 (10), 112 (100), 97 (10), 84
(25), 70 (25), 55 (90).
3.3. General Procedure to Syntheses of 20a–c,e
A mixture of enaminone 1a–e (0.01 mol) and 2-aminoprop-1-ene-1,1,3-tricarbonitrile (2, 1.32 g,
0.01 mol) in AcOH/NaOAc (1 g) was refluxed for 2 h (followed until completion by TLC using 1:1
ethyl acetate–petroleum ether as eluent). The mixture was cooled and then was poured onto ice-water.
The solid, so formed, was collected by filtration and recrystallized from AcOH to give yellow crystals.
2-Amino-8-(thiophen-2-yl)-6-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)pyrano-[4,3,2-de][1,6]naphthyridine-3-carbonitrile
(20a). Yield 92%; mp. 369–370 °C. Anal. Calcd. for C20H10N4O2S2 (402.45): C, 59.69; H, 2.50; N,
13.92; S, 15.93%. Found: C, 59.72; H, 2.33; N, 13.97; S, 15.86%; IR (KBr, cm−1): 33363, 3295 (NH2),
2213 (CN), 1642 (CO); 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 7.27 (t, 1H, J = 4.0, thienyl-H), 7.31 (t, 1H, J = 4.0,
thienyl-H), 7.47 (s, 1H, CH), 7.78 (d, 1H, J = 4.0, thienyl-H), 7.86 (br, 3H, thienyl-H, NH2, D2O
exchangeable), 7.94 (d, 1H, J = 4.0, thienyl-H), 8.16 (d, 1H, J = 4.0, thienyl-CH), 8.98 (s, 1H, CH);
13C-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 184.8, 162.1, 160.4, 157.2, 156.2, 154.0, 143.7, 136.1, 135.8, 134.1 (2C),
131.6, 129.3, 129.00, 128.9, 118.1, 115.9, 104.0, 98.3, 77.1 . MS: m/z (%) 402 (M+, 100), 373 (15),
319 (25), 263 (5), 236 (5), 187 (10), 111 (30), 83 (5).

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2-Amino-6-(furan-2-carbonyl)-8-(furan-2-yl)pyrano[4,3,2-de]-[1,6]naphthyridine-3-carbonitrile (20b).
Yield 90%; mp. 375–377 °C. Anal. Calcd. for C20H10N4O4 (370.32): C, 64.87; H, 2.72; N, 15.13%.
Found: C, 64.88; H, 2.68; N, 15.22%; IR (KBr, cm−1): 3471, 3373(NH2), 2210 (CN), 1653 (CO);
1H-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 6.78 (t, 1H, J = 4.0, furyl-H), 6.82 (t, 1H, J = 4.0, furyl-H), 7.19 (d, 1H, J = 4.0,
furyl-H), 7.44 (s, 1H, CH), 7.46 (d, 1H, J = 4.0, furyl-H), 7.83 (br, 2H, NH2, D2O exchangeable), 8.04
13
(d, 1H, J = 4.0, furyl-H), 8.24 (d, 1H, J = 4.0, furyl-H), 8.98 (s, 1H, CH); C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 179.20, 162.29, 161.98, 160.13, 157.31, 156.08, 151.64, 150.06, 148.72, 147.23, 145.30, 140.47,
121.34, 117.48, 115.76, 113.36, 112.97, 103.98, 97.56, 77.23. MS: m/z (%) 370 (M+, 90), 264 (15),
224 (25), 195 (15), 169 (10), 129 (10), 83 (30), 73 (35).
2-Amino-6-benzoyl-8-phenylpyrano[4,3,2-de][1,6]naphthpyrid-ine-3-carbonitrile (20c). Yield 88%;
mp. 318–319 °C. Anal. Calcd. for C24H14N4O2 (390.11): C, 73.84; H, 3.61; N, 14.35%. Found: C,
1
73.92; H, 3.6; N, 14.28%; IR (KBr, cm−1): 3445, 3341 (NH2), 2216 (CN), 1646 (CO); H-NMR
(DMSO-d6): δ = 7.56–7.61 (m, 5H, Ph-H), 7.65 (s, 1H, CH), 7.69–7.86 (m, 7H, Ph-H, NH2, D2O
13
exchangeable), 8.72 (s, 1H, CH); C-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 193.50, 162.10, 160.86, 158.22, 158.31,
156.20, 141.80, 141.10, 137.70, 135.20, 132.90, 131.60, 130.70, 129.60 (2C), 129.30, 128.80 (2C),
125.70, 117.75, 115.77, 104.21, 100.10, 77.10. MS: m/z (%) 390 (M+, 100), 373 (15), 313 (65), 257
(10), 230 (10), 188 (5), 181 (5), 105 (20), 77 (25).
2-Amino-6-(4-methoxybenzoyl)-8-(4-methoxyphenyl)pyrano-[4,3,2-de][1,6]naphthyridine-3-carbonitrile
(20e). Yield 85%; mp. 325–327 °C. Anal. Calcd. for C26H18N4O4 (450.45): C, 69.33; H, 4.03; N,
12.44%. Found: C, 69.40; H, 4.12; N, 12.42%; IR (KBr, cm−1): 3424, 3343 (NH2), 2214 (CN), 1644
1
(CO); H-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 3.84 (s, 3H, CH3), 3.88 (s, 3H, CH3), 7.07-7.11 (m, 4H, Ph-H), 7.42
(s, 1H, CH), 7.75–7.80 (m, 6H, Ph-H, NH2, D2O exchangeable), 8.69 (s, 1H, CH); 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6):
δ = 191.90, 163.30, 162.90, 160.82, 158.21, 157.65, 157.50, 156.20, 140.81, 132.11 (2C), 130.16 (2C),
127.50, 123.10, 118.62, 115.53, 114.27 (2C), 114.10 (2C), 103.90, 98.50, 77.15, 55.36, 55.41. MS: m/z
(%) 450 (M+, 100), 419 (20), 407 (5), 343 (30), 300 (10), 211 (15), 135 (25), 107 (5), 77 (20).
3.4. Synthesis of [3,5-bis-(4-chlorobenzoyl)phenyl]-(4-chlorophenyl)methanone (21)
A mixture of enaminone 1d (2.09 g, 0.01 mol) and 2-aminoprop-1-ene-1,1,3-tricarbonitrile (2, 1.32 g,
0.01 mol) in AcOH/NaOAc (1 gm) was refluxed for 2 h (followed until completion by TLC using 1:1
ethyl acetate–petroleum ether as eluent). The mixture was cooled and then was poured onto ice-water.
The solid, so formed, was collected by filtration and recrystallized from AcOH to give faint yellow
crystals, yield 80%. This product was also prepared via refluxing 1d in AcOH as described earlier by
Elnagdi et al. [12].
4. Conclusions
New simple and efficient routes for the synthesis of 7-amino-5-oxo-5,6-dihydro-1,6-naphthyridine-
8-carbonitrile derivatives 9a–d, (4-cyano-5-dicyanomethylene-2-oxo-pyrrolidin-3-ylidene)-acetic acid
ethyl ester 15B and 2-aminopyrano[4,3,2-de][1,6]naphthyridine-3-carbonitrile derivatives 20a–c,e
from the reaction of enaminones with 2-aminoprop-1-ene-1,1,3-tricarbonitrile (2) have been described.

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These products look interesting for potential biological evaluation. Moreover, all the products have latent
functional moieties that seem interesting precursors to other derivatives of the described ring systems.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Kuwait University Research Administration for the financial support of
project SC01/10 and for Analytical facilities provided by SAF projects No. GS 03/08 (Single crystal
X-ray crystallography-Rigaku Rapid II & Bruker X8 Prospector) & GS 01/01 & GS 01/03 & GS 01/05
are greatly appreciated.
References and Notes
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Sample Availability: Samples of the all compounds are available from the authors.
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).