Novel syntheses of pyrrolone and pyrrolopyridine derivatives

4-Arylmethylene-2-phenyl-2-oxazolin-5-ones 1a , b reacted with some active methylene reagents to afford pyrrolidine-3,5-dione, pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine and pyrrolinone derivatives. The cinnamate ester, obtained from 1a and sodium ethoxide, could be converted into a pyrrolidinone derivative having an active methylene group. This compound coupled with diazonium salts to afford the corresponding azo coupling products.