An organic molecule modulated chemoselective cyclization of alkynyl nitriles tethered to 2-alkyl substituted chromones with multireactive sites.

A small organic molecule phenylacetonitrile promoted chemoselective cyclization of (chromen-3-yl)alkynylnitriles to generate a novel tetracyclic or tricyclic chromone scaffold has been discovered. Importantly, the phenylacetonitrile serves as an anion transfer reagent changing the normal reaction of the substrate.