3-Substituted pyrano[2,3- a]carbazol-2(11 H)-ones have been synthesised by the reaction of 1-hydroxy-carbazole-2-carbaldehyde with malononitrile, ethyl cyanoacetate, Meldrum's acid, (carbethoxymethylene)triphenylphosphorane, ethyl benzoylacetate and phenylacetonitrile.