4a-Alkyl Derivatives of 5-Oxo-4H-4a,5-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]pyridine

High selectivity has been discovered for the C-alkylation of ambident anions of 5-oxo-1H-4,5-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]pyridines with ethyl bromoacetate, allyl, propargyl, and phenacyl bromides, which leads to the formation of the corresponding 4a-substituted 5-oxo-4H-4a,5-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]pyridines in high yield.