A novel one-pot four-component synthesis of pyrimidyl- and pyrazolylazulenes through the use of glyoxylation-decarbonylative alkynylation-cyclocondensation sequences starting from azulene or guaiazulene as substrates, gives rise to the formation of the target compounds in moderate to good yields.
Keywords: azulenes; catalysis; decarbonylation; multicomponent reactions; ynones.