DABCO as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of 3-cyano-2(1H)-pyridinones and their 2-imino analogues

3-cyano-2(1H)-pyridinones and their 2-imino analogues have been synthesized in good yields via a one-pot multi-component reaction of 3,4-dimethoxyacetophenone, malononitrile or ethylcyanoacetate, ammonium acetate and various aldehydes in the presence of 1,4-diaza-bicyclo[2,2,2]octane (DABCO) in ethanol. DABCO has been widely used as a catalyst for the organic reactions and we selected it as an efficient catalyst to synthesis of 3-cyano-pyridines. All products were characterized by melting point, IR, 1H NMR and GC/MS studies.