The use of α‐(aryl)‐4‐morpholineacetonitriles (masked acyl anion equivalents) in 1,4‐additions to α,β‐unsaturated esters and nitriles. A versatile synthetic route to 6‐aryl‐3(2H) pyridazinones

The use of α‐(substituted‐phenyl)‐4‐morpholineacetonitriles in 1,4‐additions to ethyl acrylate, ethyl crotonate, methyl α‐methylacrylate, acrylonitrile, methylacrylonitrile, crotononitrile and cinnamonitrile was studied. A convenient route to 6‐aryl‐4,5‐dihydro‐3(2H) pyridazinones from aryl aldehydes and heterocyclic aldehydes was developed.