Aryl Alkyl Ketones in a One-Pot Gewald Synthesis of 2-Aminothiophenes

2-Aminothiophene-3-carboxylates bearing various aryl groups at the 4-position are readily obtained in good to moderate yields by the one-pot Gewald reaction of aryl alkyl ketones with ethyl cyanoacetate and elemental sulfur in the presence of morpholinium acetate and excess morpholine.