Synthesis of New (E)-2-(1H-Indole-3-ylcarbonyl)-3-heteroaryl-acrylonitriles via Microwave-Assisted Knoevenagel Condensation

Given the broad spectrum of biological uses of heteroaryl-acrylonitrile derivatives, it is necessary to find simple methods to synthesize and diversify this family of compounds. We report a stereoselective synthesis of a series of new (E)-2-(1H-indole-3-ylcarbonyl)-3-heteroaryl-acrylonitriles (3a–3i) obtained from 3-(cyanoacetyl)indole and heteroaryl-aldehydes under microwave-assisted Knoevenagel reaction at 300 W of potency and 100°C. The desired derivatives (3a–3i) were obtained with variable yields (30–94%) and time reactions (8–90 min). All the heteroaryl-acrylonitriles were characterized by physicoanalytical techniques such IR, 1H, 13C NMR, and electrospray mass spectrometry.