A single-step synthesis of 3-amino-4-trifluoromethyl-6-substituted-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines (7) from 2-O-acetamido-3-cyano-4-tri-fluoromethyl-6-substituted pyridines (6) is described, and their use in the synthesis of novel pyrido[2′,3′:3,4]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines (8) under microwaveirradiation outlined.