Heterocycle-guided synthesis of m-hetarylanilines via three-component benzannulation

A one-pot three-component synthesis of substituted <jats:italic>meta</jats:italic>-hetarylanilines from heterocycle-substituted 1,3-diketones has been developed. The electron-withdrawing power of the heterocyclic substituent (which can be estimated on the basis of calculated Hammett constants) in the 1,3-diketone plays a pivotal role in the studied reaction. The series of <jats:italic>meta</jats:italic>-hetarylanilines prepared (21–85% isolated yield) demonstrates the synthetic utility of the developed method.