ABSTRACTNew pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazoline-3-carbonitriles 4a,b were obtained via cyclocondensation of 5-amino-3-cyanomethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile (1) with enaminones of 1,3-cyclohexanedione derivatives 2a,b in refluxing glacial acetic acid. Condensation of compounds 4a,b with various aromatic aldehydes furnished the corresponding arylidene derivatives 6a–j. On the other hand, condensation of 4a,b with o-hydroxybenzaldehydes yielded the polyheterocyclic compounds 10a–h. Coupling of compounds 4a,b with aryldiazonium chlorides led to formation of 2-arylhydrazono derivatives 12a–h. Also, reaction of compounds 4a,b with phenyl isothiocyanate, followed by addition of ethyl chloroacetate and chloroacetonitrile, afforded the polyheterocyclic compounds based on pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazoline core. The reaction of compounds 4a,b with phenyl isothiocyanate and elemental sulfur gave the thiazole-2-thione derivatives 25a,b. The reaction of enamines of compounds 4a,b with each of hydrazine hydrate and guanidine hydrochloride afforded pyrazolo[4″,3″:5′,6′]pyrido[4′,3′:3,4]pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazolin-8-ones 30a,b and pyrimido[5″,4″:5′,6′]pyrido[4′,3′:3,4]pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazolin-9(10H)-ones 33a,b, respectively. The structures of all the newly synthesized compounds were elucidated by elemental analyses and spectral data. The plausible mechanisms have been postulated to account for their formation.