“…1 Since the rebirth of this reaction 30 years ago, many two-or three-step strategies towards nitrogen heterocycles have been reported thanks to the huge functional tolerance of the Ugi coupling used in the first step of these sequences. 2 The application of cyanoacetic acid in Ugi reactions was first explored by Marcaccini et al This initial report on the preparation of pyrrolinones 3 was latter extended by the group and others towards the synthesis of quinolines, 4 pyridones, 5 and pyridazinones. 6 In all studies using this substrate, the multicomponent process is followed by a Knoevenagel reaction involving the cyanoacetamide methylene group and a suitably placed carbonyl functionality.…”