Studies with β-Oxoalkanonitriles: Simple Novel Synthesis of 3-[2,6-Diaryl-4- pyridyl]-3-oxopropanenitriles

Heteroaromatization of ethyl 2-cyano-4-oxo-2-(2-oxo-2-arylethyl)-4-arylbutanoates 3a,b with ammonium acetate gave ethyl 2,6-diarylisonicotinates 4a,b. Treatment of the latter with acetonitrile afforded novel beta-oxoalkanonitriles 6a,b. Reactions of 6a,b with phenyl hydrazine and hydroxylamine gave the corresponding pyridyl aminopyrazoles 8a,b and pyridyl aminoisoxazoles 10a,b, respectively.