| Abstract: | The Cope-Knoevenagel reaction of 2-phenylpropionaldehyde ( 7 ) with methyl cyanoacetate ( 8 ) produced methyl (E)-2-cyano-4-phenylpent-2-enoate ( 9 ) and the two highly fluorescent secondary products, 2-amino-3-carbomethoxy-6-phenyl-4-(1-phenylethyl)pyridine ( 10 ) and 3-cyano-6-phenyl-4-(1-phenylethyl)-2-pyridone ( 11 ). The structure of 10 was determined by X-ray crystallography while the structure of 11 was confirmed by the conversion of 9 into 11 . The mechanism of their formation is discussed. Fluorescence of 10 and 11 and the related compounds are also described. |
