A convenient strategy for the annulation of aryl scaffold to A/B-ring steroids under microwave irradiation

A facile strategy for the annulation of 2,6-dicyanoaniline moiety to steroidal A/B-ring is described from base catalyzed and microwave-promoted reaction of steroidal 3-keto-2-hydroxymethylenes with malononitrile in high yields. The generality of the reaction has been extended to non-steroidal cyclic and aliphatic ketohydroxylmethylenes.