Mechanochemistry: An efficient method of solvent-free synthesis of 3-amino-2,4-dicarbonitrile-5-methylbiphenyls

3-Amino-2,4-dicarbonitrile-5-methylbiphenyls are synthesized by a three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile, and acetone in the presence of catalytic NaOMe under grindstone method. The yields are excellent; the procedure is simple, efficient, and environmentally benign; and all the reactions go to completion within 2–3 min.