Abstract
The one-pot four-component reaction of 3-(1
H
-indol-3-yl)-3-oxopropanenitriles, aromatic aldehydes, cycloalkanones and ammonium acetate occurred via a six-step tandem Knoevenagel condensation–nucleophilic addition to carbonyl–Michael addition–N-cyclization–elimination–air oxidation sequence to afford structurally intriguing indole–cycloalkyl[
b
]pyridine-3-carbonitrile hybrid heterocycles in excellent yields.