2-Oxobenzo[h]chromene: a novel entry for the concise and efficient synthesis of indeno[1,2-c]phenanthrenes

An efficient and concise synthesis of 7-sec-amino-5,13-dihydro-6H-indeno[1,2-c]phenanthrene-8-carbonitriles is described through base catalyzed ring transformation of 4-sec-amino-2-oxo-5,6-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitriles with 1-indanone in moderate to good yields.