The oxidation of 3-aminothieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxamides with commercially available bleach leads to the formation of dimeric pyrrolo[2',3':4,5]thieno[2,3-b]pyridines (7a,14a-diamino-7,14-bis (aryl)-7,7a,14,14a-tetrahydro-6H,13H-pyrido[3 '''',2 '''':4''',5''']thieno[2''',3''':4 '',5 '']pyrrolo-[3 '',4 '':3',4']pyrrolo[2',3':4,5]thieno[2,3-b]pyridine-6,13-diones) in moderate yields (37-52%). (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.