An efficient one-pot three-component condensation of aldehydes, thiols and malononitrile
has been developed in the presence of calcium oxide nanoparticles. Highly substituted pyridines as
privileged medicinal scaffolds have been efficiently prepared via carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom
bond formation. This method provides a novel and improved approach for the synthesis of 2-amino-4-aryl-
3,5-dicyano-6-sulfanylpyridines in terms of excellent yields, short reaction times, reusability and little
catalyst loading.