A step-by-step methodology was applied in the Lewis acid-promoted synthesis of fused heterocyclic systems from carbanions and nitroarenes. Efficient formation of σH-adducts of substituted nitrobenzenes and phenylacetonitrile derivatives followed by reductive transformation of the nitro group with silylating or acylating agents leads to 9- cyanoacridines. The method was found to be superior to the earlier one-pot approach, ...