Synthesis of 7a,8-Dihydrobenzo[5,6]chromeno[2,3-b]pyrrol-9(11H)-ones

A method for the synthesis of 7a,8-dihydrobenzo[5,6]chromeno[2,3-b]pyrrol-9(11H)-ones from β-methoxalyl-substituted 1H-benzo[f]chromenes and primary aliphatic amines in the presence of nitromethane has been developed. A possible reaction route is proposed that includes the Henry reaction, the aza-Michael reaction, intramolecular nucleophilic addition, and the retro-aza-Henry reaction as the main stages.