LAUSR

A one-pot method for obtaining novel thieno[3,2-c][1,7]naphthyridine derivatives based on the reaction of 3-amino-4-(thien-2-yl)pyridin-2(1H)-one with aromatic aldehydes in 80% ­phosphoric acid at 130 °C has been developed. The formation of the thieno[3,2-c][1,7]naphthyridine ring was due to the intermediate generation of the corresponding azomethine, which underwent intra­molecular cyclization with electrophilic attack of the β-carbon atom of the thiophene core under Pictet–Spengler conditions. The isolated 5,7-dihydrothieno[3,2-c][1,7]naphthyridin-4(3H)-ones underwent oxidative aromatization in air to give thieno[3,2-c][1,7]naphthyridin-6(7H)-ones. A two-step synthesis of thieno[3,2-c][1,7]naphthyridines involving the isolation of the intermediate imine did not lead to a significant increase in the product yield.