Catalyst-free synthesis of acenaphthoindolopyrimidine derivatives

A one pot three component reaction of acenaphthoquinone, barbituric acid/thiobarbituric acid/ N,N -dimethyl barbituric acid and arylamines in ethanol for the synthesis of acenaphthoindolopyrimidine derivatives is reported. The reactions take place without a catalyst and gentle conditions. This method is facile and has some benefits such as, readily available starting materials, green solvent, catalyst-free, no column chromatographic purification and good to high yields. Graphical abstract