Synthesis of 1‐(2‐benzofurancarbonyl)azulenes using 1‐(bromoacetyl)azulenes as new building blocks

1‐Acetylazulene ( 1 ) was treated with trimethylphenylammonium tribromide in refluxing chloroform to afford 1‐acetyl‐3‐bromoazulene (3) and 3‐bromo‐1‐(bromoacetyl)azulene (4). In a similar manner, 3‐methyl‐, 3‐ethyl‐, 3‐propyl‐, and 3‐methoxycarbonyl‐substituted 1‐acetylazulenes 2a‐d gave the corresponding 3‐substituted 1‐(bromoacetyl)azulenes 5a‐d as major products and 1‐(dibromoacetyl)azulenes 6a‐d as minor ones. The 1‐(bromoacetyl)azulenes 5a‐d are useful as new building blocks. Compounds 5a‐d reacted with salicylaldehydes 9a‐g to yield twenty‐eight cyclized products, 1‐(2‐benzofurancarbonyl)azu‐lenes 11aa‐dg , via 1‐phenoxyacetylazulenes 10aa‐dg.     

Reactions of 1‐(3‐aryl‐3‐oxopropenyl)azulenes and 1‐cinnamoylazulenes with malononitrile: Synthesis of 1‐(2‐aryl‐4‐pyridyl)azulenes and 1‐(4‐aryl‐2‐pyridyl)azulenes

The reactions of 1‐formyl‐3‐methoxycarbonylazulene ( 1 ) with acetophenones 3a‐e gave 1‐(3‐aryl‐3‐oxopropenyl)‐3‐methoxycarbonylazulenes 4a‐e which reacted with malononitrile in the presence of sodium methoxide to afford 1‐(2‐aryl‐4‐pyridyl)‐3‐methoxycarbonylazulenes 9a‐d , except for 4′‐nitro‐substituted compounds. Heating of the compounds 9a‐d in 100% phosphoric acid yielded 1‐(2‐aryl‐4‐pyridyl)azulenes 10a‐d . In a similar manner, 1‐(4‐aryl‐2‐pyridyl)azulenes 12a‐1 and 1‐[4‐(2‐furyl)‐ and 4‐(2‐thienyl)‐2‐pyridyl)]azulenes 14a,b were obtained.     

Formation of 6,10‐Diphenyl‐Substituted Heptalene‐4,5‐dicarboxylates

It is shown that 4,8‐diphenylazulene ( 1 ) can be easily prepared from azulene by two consecutive phenylation reactions with PhLi, followed by dehydrogenation with chloranil. Similarly, a Me group can subsequently be introduced with MeLi at C(6) of 1 (Scheme 2). This methylation led not only to the expected main product, azulene 2 , but also to small amounts of product 3 , the structure of which has been determined by X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis (cf. Fig. 1). As expected, the latter product reacts with chloranil at 40° in Et₂O to give 2 in quantitative yields. Vilsmeier formylation of 1 and 2 led to the formation of the corresponding azulene‐1‐carbaldehydes 4 and 5 . Reduction of 4 and 5 with NaBH₄/BF₃ ? OEt₂ in diglyme/Et₂O 1 : 1 and BF₃ ? OEt₂, gave the 1‐methylazulenes 6 and 7 , respectively. In the same way was azulene 9 available from 6 via Vilsmeier formylation, followed by reduction of azulene‐1‐carbaldehyde 8 (Scheme 3). The thermal reactions of azulenes 1, 6 , and 7 with excess dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (ADM) in MeCN at 100° during 72 h afforded the corresponding heptalene‐4,5‐dicarboxylates 11, 12 , and 13 , respectively (Scheme 4). On the other hand, the highly substituted azulene 9 gave hardly any heptalene‐4,5‐dicarboxylate.     

Synthesis of 2‐formyl‐1‐aza‐dibenzo[e,h]azulenes

Synthesis of a novel heterocyclic class of compounds, 1‐aza‐dibenzo[e,h]azulenes [1] ( 6a‐c and 7a‐c ), derived from dibenzo[b,f]oxepin, its 8‐chloro analogue and dibenzo[b,f]thiepin, respectively, is described. Aldol condensation of the starting ketones 4a‐c with (dimethyl‐hydrazono)‐acetaldehyde affords hydrazonoethylidene derivatives 5a‐c , which on reduction with sodium dithionite and subsequent cyclization provide the target tetracyclic 1‐aza‐dibenzo[e,h]azulenes 6a‐c . Regiospecific formylation of 6a‐c with Vilsmeier reagent leads to 2‐formyl derivatives 7a‐c . A series of derivatives 6a‐c and 7a‐c was tested for antiinflammatory activity as potential inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) production in vitro.     

Surprising Formation of Highly Substituted Azulenes on Thermolysis of 4,5,6,7,8‐Pentamethyl‐2H‐cyclohepta[b]furan‐2‐one and Heptalene Formation with the New Azulenes

Heating of 4,5,6,7,8‐pentamethyl‐2H‐cyclohepta[b]furan‐2‐one ( 1a ) in decalin at temperatures >170° leads to the development of a blue color, typical for azulenes. It belongs, indeed, to two formed azulenes, namely 4,5,6,7,8‐pentamethyl‐2‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentamethylphenyl)azulene ( 4a ) and 4,5,6,7,8‐pentamethylazulene ( 5a ) (cf. Scheme 2 and Table 1). As a third product, 4,5,6,7‐tetramethyl‐2‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentamethylphenyl)‐1H‐indene ( 6a ) is also found in the reaction mixture. Neither 4,6,8‐trimethyl‐2H‐cyclohepta[b]furan‐2‐one ( 1b ) nor 2H‐cyclohepta[b]furan‐2‐one ( 1c ) exhibit, on heating, such reactivity. However, heating of mixtures 1a / 1b or 1a / 1c results in the formation of crossed azulenes, namely 4,6,8‐trimethyl‐2‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentamethylphenyl)azulene ( 4ba ) and 2‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentamethylphenyl)azulene ( 4ca ), respectively (cf. Scheme 3). The formation of small amounts of 4,6,8‐trimethylazulene ( 5ba ) and azulene ( 5ca ), respectively, besides 1H‐indene 6a is also observed. The observed product types speak for an [8+2]‐cycloaddition reaction between two molecules of 1a or between 1b and 1c , respectively, with 1a , whereby 1a plays in the latter two cases the part of the two‐atom component (cf. Figs. 5 – 7 and Schemes 4 – 6). Strain release, due to the five adjacent Me groups in 1a , in the [8+2]‐cycloaddition step seems to be the driving force for these transformations (cf. Table 3), which are further promoted by the consecutive loss of two molecules of CO₂ and concomitant formation of the 10π‐electron system of the azulenes. The new azulenes react with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (ADM) to form the corresponding dimethyl heptalene‐4,5‐dicarboxylates 20 , 22 , and 24 (cf. Scheme 7), which give thermally or photochemically the corresponding double‐bond‐shifted (DBS) isomers 20′ , 22′ , and 24′ , respectively. The five adjacent Me groups in 20 / 20′ and 24 / 24′ exert a certain buttressing effect, whereby their thermal DBS process is distinctly retarded in comparison to 22 / 22′ , which carry `isolated' Me groups at C(6), C(8), and C(10). This view is supported by X‐ray crystal‐structure analyses of 22 and 24 (cf. Fig. 8 and Table 5).     

Azulene‐substituted pyranylium salts. Syntheses and products characterization

The synthesis of 4‐azulene‐substituted 2,6‐diphenyl‐ and 2,6‐dimethyl‐pyranylium salts and 2‐azulenesubstituted 4,6‐dimethyl‐pyranylium salts by nucleophilic substitution at pyranylium moiety with various azulenes was studied. The starting materials for 2,6‐diphenyl derivatives were 4 chlorinated pyranylium salts. They were obtained by the halogenation with PCl₅ of corresponding pyranones and were used either in situ or after separation. For the synthesis of dimethyl derivatives the corresponding pyranones were treated with POCl₃ and the resulted intermediate was reacted in situ with azulene. In the aim to study the influence of dihedral angle between azulene and pyranylium planes on the recorded spectra, both moieties were adequately substituted. The obtained results were in accord with the calculated values.     

Azulene‐1‐azo‐2′‐thiazoles. Synthesis and properties

Several derivatives belonging to a new compound class, namely azulene‐1‐azo‐2′‐thiazoles, were prepared by the diazotization of 2‐aminothiazoles in the presence of HNO₃/H₃PO₄ followed by the coupling of diazonium salts with azulenes in buffered medium. The reactions proved to be general for this class, the yields are, however, considerably influenced by the substituents at thiazole moiety. For the first time a N‐oxide provided from an amino substituted five‐member nitrogenous heterocycle was diazotized and coupled. The structure of the obtained compounds was assigned and their physico‐chemical properties were discussed. The new azulene azo derivatives exhibit a strong bathochromic shift in UV‐Vis due to the intense push‐pull effect of aromatic system and to the intrinsic properties of thiazole moiety.     

Design,Synthesis, and Characterization of 1, 3‐disubstituted‐1,4‐benzodiazepine Derivatives

The 2‐amino‐4′‐flouro‐benzophenone ( 1 ) that was reacted with chloroacetylchloride to afford 2‐chloro‐N‐(2‐(4′‐fluorobenzoyl) phenyl)acetamide ( 2 ) was subsequently converted to 1,4‐benzodiazepines ( 3 ) by the modification of the known hexamethylenetetramine based cyclization reaction developed by Blazevic and Kajfez. Thus, obtained product ( 3 ) was reacted with a variety of alkyl halide using KOH in DMF to give 1‐substituted‐5‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐1H‐benzo[e][1,4]diazepin‐2(3H)‐one ( 4a , 4b ). To achieve 1, 3‐disubstituted 1, 4‐benzodiazepines ( 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h , 5i , 5j , 5k , 5l , 5m , 5n , 5o , 5p , 5q , 5r , 5s , 5t ), 1‐substituted‐5‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐1H‐benzo[e][1,4]diazepin‐2(3H)‐one ( 4a , 4b ) was treated with various aromatic aldehydes in the presence of KOH in toluene.     

Theoretical approach to the out-of-plane deformation of 1,3-disubstituted azulenes

Computational calculations at B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and MP2/6-311++G(d,p) levels were employed to analyze the structure and conformation of 1,3-bis(4-bromophenyl)azulene (1), 1,3-bis(2-thienyl)azulene (2), and 1,3-bis(2-pyrrollyl)azulene (3) in order to rationalize the out-of-plane deformation found in the azulene cores of 1 and 2 in the crystalline state, whereas compound 3 shows a totally planar azulene moiety. Our results indicate that 1,3-disubstituted azulenes possess two almost equally stable and easily convertible minimum energy conformers, which differ in the relative orientation of the substituent groups and in the planarity degree of the azulene core. An absolute planarity index (P) is introduced to quantify the out-of-plane distortion found in the azulenes under study. The aromaticity of minimum energy conformers was evaluated by means of geometric (HOMA), magnetic (NICS), and energetic (the frequency of the lowest out-of-plane vibration, ν_min) aromaticity indicators, which suggest that compound 3 possesses the most aromatic azulene core within the group. Calculated molecular dipole moments suggest that the conformation of 1,3-disubstituted azulenes in the crystalline state can be explained in terms of electrostatic intermolecular interactions rather than relative stability of planar and non-planar conformers.     

Synthesis of 3‐arylazo‐6‐oxopyridazin‐5‐carbonitriles: A versatile precursor for condensed arylazopyridazin‐6‐ones

1‐[2‐Phenyl‐1‐diazenyl]‐1‐[2‐phenylhydrazono]acetone or 1‐[‐2‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐1‐diazenyl]‐1‐[‐2‐(4‐methylphenyl)hydrazono]‐butan‐2‐one were produced via coupling the (E) 2‐oxopropanal‐1‐phenyl‐hydrazone or (E) 2‐oxobutanal‐1‐(4‐methylphenyl)hydrazone with aromatic diazonium salts. These formazanes condensed readily with ethyl cyanoacetate to yield 5‐methyl‐3‐oxo‐2‐phenyl‐6‐phenylazo‐2,3‐dihydropyridazine‐4‐carbonitrile compound ( 9a ), 5‐ethyl‐3‐oxo‐2‐p‐tolyl‐6‐p‐tolylazo‐2,3‐dihydro‐pyridazine‐4‐carbonitrile and/or 5‐ethyl‐3‐oxo‐2,6‐di‐p‐tolyl‐2,3‐dihydropyridazine‐4‐carbonitrile that reacted with sulphur in presence of piperidine to yield the aminothienopyridazinones. The latter reacted with electron poor olefins and acetylenes to yield aminophthalazines. Compound ( 9a ) reacted also with benzylidenemalononitrile to yield the arylazophthalazinone.     

Synthesis of 2‐(sulfamoylphenyl)‐4′‐(iminoaryl/hetroaryl)‐4‐(4′′‐hydroxyphenyl)‐thiazoles and their O‐glucosides

In continuation of our work, we synthesized 2‐(sulfamoylphenyl)‐4′‐amino‐4‐(4″‐hydroxyphenyl)‐thiazole ( 3a ), which were reacted with various (aryl/hetroaryl) aldehyde to form 2‐(sulfamoylphenyl)‐4′‐(iminoaryl/hetroaryl)‐4‐(4″‐hydroxyphenyl)‐thiazoles ( 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f ). Glucosylation of compounds ( 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f ) have been done by using acetobromoglucose as a glucosyl donor to afford 2‐(sulfamoylphenyl)‐4′‐(iminoaryl/hetroaryl)‐4‐(2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐4″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucosidoxyphenyl)‐thiazoles ( 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f ), further on deacetylation to produce 2‐(sulfamoylphenyl)‐4′‐(iminoaryl/hetroaryl)‐4‐(4″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucosidoxyphenyl)‐thiazoles ( 6a , 6b , 6c , 6d , 6e , 6f ). The compounds are confirmed by FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, and ES‐Mass spectral analysis. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Microwaves in organic synthesis: Synthesis of pyridazinones,phthalazinones and pyridopyridazinones from 2‐oxo‐arylhydrazones under microwave irradiation

The phenylhydrazones 1a‐d condensed with ethyl cyanoacetate to yield pyridazinones 2a‐d that reacted with sulphur in presence of piperidine to yield the aminothienopyridazineones 3a,b that reacted with electron poor olefins and acetylenes to yield phthalazines 10‐12. The condensed aminothiophenes 3a,b reacted with dimethylformamide dimethylacetal to yield amidines 13a,b. Compounds 2a,b condensed with dimethylformamide dimethylacetal to yield the trans enamines 16a,b that cyclized readily into the pyridopyridazinones 17a,b on treatment with ammonium acetate in presence of acetic acid. Compounds 2a‐d reacted also with benzylidenemalononitrile to yield the phthalazinones 21a‐d. The reactions were conducted both by microwave heating and conventional heating. Better yields in much shorter reaction times were achieved by microwave heating.     

Synthesis of Novel 2‐Aryloxy‐3‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐8‐substituted‐5‐aryl‐8,9‐dihydro‐3H‐chromeno[2,3‐d]pyrimidine‐4,6(5H,7H)‐dione Derivatives

Twenty‐one novel 2‐aryloxy‐3‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐8‐substituted‐5‐aryl‐8,9‐dihydro‐3H‐chromeno[2,3‐d]pyrimidine‐4,6(5H,7H)‐diones 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h , 5i , 5j , 5k , 5l , 5m , 5n , 5o , 5p , 5q , 5r , 5s , 5t , 5u were designed and easily synthesized via a tandem aza‐Wittig reaction. Treatment of iminophosphorane 3 with 4‐chlorophenyl iso‐cyanate gave carbodiimide 4 , which reacted with phenols to provide the title compounds in 50–73% isolated yields. All compounds 3 and 5 were confirmed by infrared, ¹H‐NMR, mass spectra, and elemental analysis, and compound 5a was further analyzed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, and the title compounds were synthesized with the purpose of bringing in some new chemical and biological interests.     

A Novel Synthesis of 1‐Aryl‐6‐bromo‐3‐(5‐ethylthio‐4‐phenyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazolo[4,3‐b]quinolin‐9(4H)‐ones via Thermal Cyclization of 4‐Azidopyrazoles

2‐Aryl‐hydrazononitriles 3a , 3b , 3c were prepared by coupling 3‐ethylthio‐5‐cyanomethyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazole ( 1 ) with diazonium salts 2a , 2b , 2c . Reacting 3a , 3b , 3c with both ethyl bromoacetate ( 4a ) and 4‐bromobenzyl bromide ( 4b ) in DMF, in the presence of K₂CO₃, at 80 °C for 3–4 h, gave the corresponding 4‐amino‐pyrazoles 6a , 6b , 6c , 6d , 6e , 6f . Diazotization of 6a , 6b , 6c , 6d , 6e , 6f , followed by reaction with NaN₃, leads to the formation of 4‐azidopyrazoles 8a , 8b , 8c , 8d , 8e , 8f , a new heterocyclic ring system. Interestingly, fusion of 4‐azidopyrazoles 8d , 8e , 8f at temperature higher than their melting points with 5 °C for 2 min did not give the expected fused pyrazolo[4,3‐c]isoxazoles 9 but furnished instead the novel pyrazolo[4,3‐b]quinolinones 10a , 10b , 10c , in high yields.     

Synthesis of Novel 3‐(3‐(5‐Methylisoxazol‐3‐yl)‐7H‐[1,2,4]Triazolo [3,4‐b][1,3,4]Thiadiazin‐6‐yl)‐2H‐Chromen‐2‐Ones

A novel series of coumarin substituted triazolo‐thiadiazine derivatives were designed and synthesized by using 5‐methyl isoxazole‐3‐carboxylic acid ( 1 ), thiocarbohydrazide ( 2 ), and various substituted 3‐(2‐bromo acetyl) coumarins ( 4a , 4b , 4c , 4e , 4d , 4f , 4g , 4h , 4i , 4j ). Fusion of 5‐methyl isoxazole‐3‐carboxylic acid with thiocarbohydrazide resulted in the formation of the intermediate 4‐amino‐5‐(5‐methylisoxazol‐3‐yl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiol ( 3 ). This intermediate on further reaction with substituted 3‐(2‐bromo acetyl) coumarins under simple reaction conditions formed the title products 3‐(3‐(5‐methylisoxazol‐3‐yl)‐7H‐[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4‐b][1,3,4]thiadiazin‐6‐yl‐2H‐chromen‐2‐ones ( 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h , 5i , 5j ) in good to excellent yields. All the synthesized compounds were well characterized by physical, analytical, and spectroscopic techniques.     

4‐Toluenesulfonamide as a Building Block for Synthesis of Novel Triazepines,Pyrimidines, and Azoles

N‐{(E)‐(dimethylamino)methylidenearbamothioyl}‐4‐toluenesulfonamide ( 2 ) was obtained by reaction of N‐carbamothioyl‐4‐toluenesulfonamide ( 1 ) with dimethylformamide dimethylacetal or alternatively by the reaction of 1‐(dimethylamino)methylidenethiourea with tosyl chloride. Compound 2 was reacted with substituted anilines to yield anilinomethylidine derivatives 3a , 3b , 3c , 3d , 3e , 3f , 3g . Treatment of 3a , 3b , 3c , 3d , 3e , 3f , 3g with phenacyl bromide gave triazepines 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f , 4g and imidazoles 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g . Esterification of compound 3e afforded ester derivative 6 , which was subjected to react with hydrazine to yield hydrazide derivative 7 . Oxadiazole 8 was obtained by reaction of 7 with CS₂/KOH. Compound 3e was treated with o‐aminophenol or o‐aminothiophenol to give benzazoles 9a , 9b . N‐(Diaminomethylidene)‐4‐toluenesulfonamide ( 10 ) reacted with enaminones to yield pyrimidines 11 , 12 , 13 , respectively. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by elemental and spectral analyses. Some selected compounds were screened for their in vitro antifungal activity. In general, the newly synthesized compounds showed good antifungal activity.     

l‐Proline‐Catalyzed Knoevenagel Condensation: A Tandem Synthesis of 3‐Acetylcoumarinoindoles and Their N‐Alkyl Derivatives by Using PEG‐600 as the Reaction Medium

A tandem synthesis of 3‐acetylcoumarinoindoles 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e in the presence of catalytic amount of l ‐proline in ethanol medium is reported. l ‐proline has been utilized as an efficient and eco‐friendly catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation of 3‐cyanoacetylindoles 1a , 1b , 1c , 1d , 1e with 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde ( 2 ) to afford the corresponding substituted 3‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)2‐(2‐hydroxybenzylidene)‐3‐oxopropanenitriles 3(a–e) , which without isolation were treated with hot conc. HCl to afford 3‐acetylcoumarinoindoles 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e in high yields. Subsequently, these were reacted with dimethyl sulfate in the presence of PEG‐600 (Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India) as an efficient and green solvent to afford the corresponding N‐methyl‐3‐acetylcoumarinoindoles 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e in moderate yields.     

Synthesis of 2‐Azulenyl‐1,1,4,4‐tetracyano‐3‐ferrocenyl‐1,3‐butadienes by [2+2] Cycloaddition of (Ferrocenylethynyl)azulenes with Tetracyanoethylene

1‐, 2‐, and 6‐(Ferrocenylethynyl)azulene derivatives 10 – 16 have been prepared by palladium‐catalyzed alkynylation of ethynylferrocene with the corresponding haloazulenes under Sonogashira–Hagihara conditions. Compounds 10 – 16 reacted with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in a [2+2] cycloaddition–cycloreversion reaction to afford the corresponding 2‐azulenyl‐1,1,4,4,‐tetracyano‐3‐ferrocenyl‐1,3‐butadiene chromophores 17 – 23 in excellent yields. The redox behavior of the novel azulene chromophores 17 – 23 was examined by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), which revealed their multistep electrochemical reduction properties. Moreover, a significant color change was observed by visible spectroscopy under electrochemical reduction conditions.     

Studies with 3‐functionally substituted 2‐arylhydrazononitriles: A new route to 3‐substituted‐2‐arylhydrazononitriles, 4‐amino‐pyrazole‐5‐carbonitriles,azadienes and cinnolines

3‐Amino‐3‐phenyl‐2‐phenylazoacrylonitrile 6 is obtained in good yield via reaction of 5 with phenyl magnesium bromide. The compound 6 is readily converted into 4a . The so formed alkanenitrile reacted with phenylmagnesium bromide to yield 8 . Compound 8 could be also obtained from reaction of 9 with phenylmagnesium bromide. The arylhydrazononitriles 8 and 4a reacted with chloroacetonitrile to yield the 4‐aminopyrazoles 12a,b . Compound 12a reacted with acetic anhydride to yield the 15a and with benzoyl chloride to yield the pyrazole 16 which was converted into 15b . Refluxing 10 in acetic acid gave a mixture of the azadiene 21 and the cinnoline 22 is obtained. The azadiene 21 is converted into 22 either thermally or photochemically.     

Behavior of 3‐benzylamino‐5‐aryl‐2(3H)‐furanones towards some nitrogen nucleophiles

Ring closure of 2‐N‐benzylamino‐3‐aroylpropionic acids ( 3 ) with acetic anhydride afforded 3‐N‐benzylamino‐5‐aryl‐2(3H)‐furanones ( 4 ). The reaction of the furanones ( 4 ) with benzylamine in benzene was found to be time dependent. Thus refluxing the reaction mixture for 1 h only afforded the open‐chain amides ( 5a‐c ). When the reaction was conducted for 3 h the 2(3H)‐pyrrolones ( 6 ) were obtained. Hydrazine hydrate affected ring opening of the furanones to give the hydrazides ( 5d‐f ). Also, semicarbazide converted ( 4 ) into the corresponding semicarbazide derivatives ( 5g‐i ). The hydrazides ( 5d‐f ) were reacted with benzoyl chloride to give the corresponding diaroylhydrazines ( 5j‐l ). The open‐chain derivatives ( 5 ) were converted into a variety of heterocycles: isothiazolones ( 7 ), dihydropyridazinones ( 8 ), 1,3,4‐oxadiazoles ( 9 ) and 1,2,4‐triazole derivatives ( 10 ) via cyclization reactions.