[Figure not available: see fulltext.] A new, effective method has been developed for the synthesis of functionalized thieno[2,3-b]pyridines by multicomponent condensation reactions of aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes, cyanothioacetamide, acetoacetanilides, and alkylating agents containing activated methylene groups. The structures of 3-amino-2-benzoyl-4-(furan-2-yl)-6-methyl-N-phenylthieno[2,3-b]pyridine-5-carboxamide, 3-amino-N2-(4-bromophenyl)-N5-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-4-(3-methylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2,5-dicarboxamide, and 3-amino- 4-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-2-(4-methylbenzoyl)thieno[2,3-b]pyridine-5-carboxamide were studied by X-ray structural analysis. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.