Green synthesis of novel (E)-2-(1,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophthalazine-2-carbonyl)-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)acrylonitriles

Green synthesis of novel title compounds (6) has been developed from 3-(1,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydrophthalazin-(1H)-yl)-3-oxopropanenitrile (3) and indole-3-aldehyde (4) using Knoevenagel condensation followed by alkylation with alkylating agents. Compound 6 could also be synthesised by alkylation of 4 followed by condensation with 3. In an alternate sequence of reactions, 6 could be synthesised either from treatment of 3 with N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal to form (E)-3-(dimethlamino)-2-(1,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophthalazine-2-carbonyl)acrylonitrile 8 followed by reaction with 10 or by the reaction 8 with 9 followed by alkylation.