A simple facile one-step microwave-enhancedsynthesis of methyl 4-substituted-6-amino-5-cyano-2-methylpyridine-3-carboxylate derivatives via a three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile, and methyl 3-aminobut-2-enoate has been developed. It is an efficient and promising synthetic strategy to build the polyfunctional pyridine skeleton. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2009)