An efficient multi-component synthesis of (2-amino-3-cyano-4H-chromen-4-yl) phosphonic acid diethyl ester

(2-Amino-3-cyano-4H-chromen-4-yl) phosphonic acid diethyl esters are prepared via a single-step multi-component reaction of structurally diverse salicylaldehydes with malononitrile and triethyl phosphite using a catalytic amount of potassium phosphate in ethanol at ambient temperature. Use of potassium phosphate as an inexpensive catalyst makes the protocol more economical. Mild reaction conditions, simple work-up procedure are the added advantages of the present method.