An innovative approach to the synthesis of annelated [a]diaza-anthracenones through tandem cyclization

An innovative route for the synthesis of a novel class of 4-aryl-11-oxo-1,2,3,11-tetrahydro-1,3a-diazacyclopenta[a]anthracene-6-carbonitriles 5a–h and 5-aryl-12-oxo-1,3,4,12-tetrahydro-2H-1,4a-diazabenzo[a]anthracene-7-carbonitriles 5i–k has been developed by ring transformation of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-ones 1 with α-oxoketene cyclic aminals 2 to give compounds 4 followed by photo-induced cyclization.