Studies on furan derivatives. V. A novel ethoxycarbonylmethylation of the 5-nitro-2-furan ring in the reaction of α-(2-furyl)-β-(5-nitro-2-furyl)ethynyl with N-ethoxycarbonylmethylpyridinium ylide

An unexpected product, 1-(4-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-(2-furyl)-3-ethoxycarbonyl-indolizine was obtained by the reaction of α-(2-furyl)-β-(5-nitro-2-furyl)ethynyl with N-ethoxy-carbonylmethylpyridinium ylide in N,N-dimethylformamide, together with 1-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-(2-furyl)-3-ethoxycarbonylindolizine.     

Studies on heteroaromaticity. XV . the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of 5-nitro-2-furyldiazomethane

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of 5-nitro-2-furyldiazomethane ( 1 ) with acrylonitrile, acrylamide, methyl acrylate, diethyl fumarate, methyl methacrylate and methyl cinnamate afforded the corresponding 3-substituted pyrazolines. ( 2a-f ). Similarly the pyrazoles ( 3b-d ) were prepared by addition of 1 to acetylenic compounds such as diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, methyl phenylpropiolate and cyanoacetylene. Reaction of 1 with fumaronitrile and ω-nitro-styrene gave also the corresponding pyrazoles ( 3a and 3e ) instead of the pyrazolines. 3-(5′-Nitro-2′-furyl)-4-phenyl-5-carbomethoxypyrazoline ( 2f ) was oxidized with lead tetraacetate to the corresponding pyrazole ( 3f ), which was different from 3c , an addition product of 1 with methyl phenylpropiolate. 3-(5′-Nitro-2′-furyl)-5-carbamidopyrazoline ( 2b ) was pyrolyzed to the corresponding cyclopropane derivative 4 in low yield.     

Scope and limitations of the double [4+3]-cycloadditions of 2-oxyallyl cations to 2,2'-methylenedifuran and derivatives

The reactivity of various 2-oxyallyl cations toward 2,2'-methylenedifuran (1b), 2,2'-(hydroxymethyl)difuran (1c), 2,2'-(trimethylsilylmethylene)difuran (1d), and di(2-furyl)methanone (1e) has been explored. Difuryl derivatives 1c, 1d, and 1e refused to undergo formal double [4+3]-cycloadditions. Conditions have been found to convert 1b into meso-1,1'-methylenedi[(1R,1'S,5S,5'R)- (3) and (+/-)-1,1'-methylenedi[(1RS,1'SR,5SR,5'RS)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-one] (4) that do not require CF(3)CH(OH)CF(3) as solvent. High yields of meso-1,1'-methylenedi[(1R,1'S,2S,2'R,4R,4'S,5S,5'R)- (5) and (+/-)-1,1'-methylenedi[(1RS,1'RS,2SR,2'SR,4RS,4'RS,5SR,5'SR)-2,4-dimethyl-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-one] (6) have been obtained when 1b was reacted with 2,4-dibromopentan-3-one (7h) and NaI/Cu.     

New approach to the synthesis of substituted 5-arylcarbamoyl-3-cyano-6-methylpyridine-2(1h)-thiones. Molecular and crystal structure of 2-allylthio-3-cyano-5-(2-methoxyphenylcarbamoyl)-6-methyl-4-(5-methyl-2-furyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine

Morpholinium 5-arylcarbamoyl-3-cyano-6-methyl-4-(5-methyl-2-furyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-2-thiolates have been obtained by the interaction of enamines of acetoacetanilides with 5-methyl-2-furfurylidenecyanothioacetamide. Alkylation of the salts gives thioethers and oxidation gives the corresponding substituted pyridine-2(1H)-thiones. The structure of 2-allylthio-3-cyano-5-(2-methoxyphenylcarbamoyl)-6-methyl-4-(5-methyl-2-furyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine was studied by X-ray crystallographic analysis. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 51–58, January, 2006.     

Nitration of 2- and 4-[2-(2-furyl)vinyl]thiazole derivatives

Nitration of 4-methyl-2-[2-(nitro-2-furyl)vinyl]thiazole with a mixture of concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids leads to 4-methyl-5-nitro-2-[2-(3,5-dinitro-2-furyl)vinyl]thiazole. Under the same conditions 2-methyl- and 2-acetamido-4-[1-R-2-(5-nitro-2-furyl)vinyl]thiazoles (R=CH₃, Cl) are nitrated in the 3 position of the furan ring, 2-amino-4-[1-chloro-2-(5-nitro-2-furyl)vinyl]thiazole is nitrated in the 5 position of the thiazole ring and 2-acetamido-5-nitro-4-[2-(2-furyl)vinyl]thiazole undergoes profound changes. Under the influence of a mixture of of nitric acid and acetic anhydride the latter compound is converted quantitatively to the 5-nitro derivative (with respect to the furan ring), whereas 4-[2-(5-nitro-2-furyl)vinyl]thiazole derivatives do not undergo reaction.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 314–317, March, 1977.     

Synthetic transformations of higher terpenoids: XV. Transformations of azlactone derived from 16-formyllambertianic acid methyl ester

Condensation of 16-formyllambertianic acid methyl ester with hippuric acid gave methyl 15,16-epoxy-16-[(4Z)-5-oxo-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydrooxazol-4-ylidenemethyl]labda-8(20),13(16),14-trien-19-oate which underwent ready transformation into 2-benzoylamino-3-(2-furyl)acrylic acid of the labdanoid series. Reactions of the diterpenoid azlactone with amines and α-amino acid esters led to the formation of the corresponding carbamoylvinylbenzamides and N-(2-benzoylaminoacryloyl) amino acid esters, and furylacrylic acid hydrazides were formed in reactions with hydrazines. Cyclization of the N′-phenylhydrazide by the action of 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide gave the corresponding 1,2,4-triazin-6-one. By treatment of the azlactone with aqueous ammonia on heating, 4-substituted 2-phenyl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-5-one was obtained.     

Synthesis and alkylation of n<Subscript>(3)</Subscript>-aryl-n<Subscript>(5)</Subscript>-phenyl-6-amino-4-aryl(2-furyl)-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxamide

N₍₃₎-Aryl-N₍₅₎-phenyl-6-amino-4-aryl(2-furyl)-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxamides have been obtained by the interaction of N-phenyl-3-aryl(2-furyl)-2-cyanoacrylamides with 3-amino-3-thioxopropananilides under the conditions of the Michael reaction. N₍₃₎-Aryl-N₍₅₎-phenyl-2-alkylthio-6-amino-4-aryl(2-furyl)-3,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxamides and N₍₃₎, N₍₅₎-diphenyl-6-benzylthio-4-(2-furyl)-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxamides were synthesized by alkylation of the products. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 7, pp. 1018–1023, July, 2008.     

Chemistry of metal-bound anion radicals. A family of mono- and bis(azopyridine) chelates of bivalent ruthenium

The reaction of the dihydride [RuII(H)2(CO)(PPh3)3], 3, with excess azo-2,2'-bipyridine (abp) in boiling dry benzene has afforded the diradical bischelate [RuII(abp.-)2(CO)(PPh3)], 4, and the hydridic monochelate monoradical [RuII(abp.-)(H)(CO)(PPh3)2], 5. A similar reaction between 3 and 2-(p-chlorophenylazo)pyridine (Clpap) did not yield a bischelate, but the hydridic monoradical [RuII(Clpap.-)(H)(CO)(PPh3)2], 6, has been isolated. Upon treatment of 4-6 with NH4PF6 in a wet dichloromethane-acetonitrile medium, the one-electron-oxidized salts 4+PF6-, 5+PF6-, and 6+PF6- are isolated, H+ being the oxidizing agent. The X-ray structures of 4+PF6-.CH2Cl2, 5+PF6-.H2O, and 6+PF6- have been determined. In the monoradical 4+ the azo N-N bond lengths in the two chelate rings are 1.284(6) and 1.336(6) A, showing that the radical electron is localized in the latter ring. The half-filled extended Hückel HOMO is indeed found to be so localized, and it has a large azo character. Complexes 4-6 display radical redox couples with E1/2 in the range -0.5 to +0.10 V vs SCE. The E1/2 values qualitatively correlate with corresponding vco values (1900-2000 cm-1). The monoradicals (S = 1/2) 4+, 5, and 6 uniformly display a strong EPR signal near g = 2.00. Metal-mediated magnetic interaction makes the EPR-silent diradical 4 strongly antiferromagnetic with J = -299 cm-1. Crystal data are as follows: (4+PF6-.CH2Cl2, C40H33Cl2F6N8-OP2Ru) monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c (no. 14), a = 14.174(6) A, b = 16.451(4) A, c = 18.381(4) A, beta = 98.00(3) degrees, Z = 4; (5+PF6-.H2O, C47H41F6N4O2P3Ru) monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n (no. 14), a = 9.433(2) A, b = 38.914(17) A, c = 13.084(3) A, beta = 103.47(2) degrees, Z = 4; (6+PF6-, C48H39ClF6N3OP3Ru) monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n (no. 14), a = 10.496(5) A, b = 22.389(8) A, c = 19.720(6) A, beta = 90.53(3) degrees, Z = 4.     

Synthesis of heterocycles based on arylation products of unsaturated compounds: XVII. Arylation of 2-acetylfuran and synthesis of 3-R-6-(5-aryl-2-furyl)-7<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>][1,3,4]thiadiazines

Reaction of 2-acetylfuran with arenediazonium chlorides under Meerwein reaction conditions led to the formation of 5-aryl-2-acetylfurans. The bromination of these compounds gave 2-bromo-1-(5-aryl-2-furyl)-ethanones that reacted with 4-amino-4H-5-R-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols to form 3-R-6-(5-aryl-2-furyl)-7H-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines.     

Synthesis of 1,2-diazepino[3,4-b]quinoxalines and pyrido[3′,4′:9,8][1,5,6]oxadiazonino[3,4-b]quinoxalines via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction

The reaction of 6-chloro-2-(1-methylhydrazino)quinoxaline 4-oxide 8 with furfural, 3-methyl-2-thiophene-carbaldehyde, 2-pyrrolecarbaldehyde, 4-pyridinecarbaldehyde and pyridoxal hydrochloride gave 6-chloro-2-[2-(2-furylmethylene)-1-methylhydrazino]quinoxaline 4-oxide 5a , 6-chloro-2-[1-methyl-2-(3-methyl-2-thienyl-methylene)hydrazino]quinoxaline 4-oxide 5b , 6-chloro-2-[1-methyl-2-(2-pyrrolylmethylene)hydrazino]quinoxa-line 4-oxide 5c , 6-chloro-2-[1-methyl-2-(4-pyridylmethylene)hydrazino]quinoxaline 4-oxide 5d and 6-chloro-2-[2-(3-hydroxy-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-pyridylmethylene)-1-methylhydrazino]quinoxalme 4-oxide 5e , respectively. The reaction of compound 5a or 5b with 2-chloroacrylonitrile afforded 8-chloro-3-(2-furyl)-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,2-diazepino[3,4-b]quinoxaline-5-carbonitrile 6a or 8-chloro-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-(3-methyl-2-thienyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,2-diazepino[3,4-b]quinoxaline-5-carbonitrile 6b , respectively, while the reaction of compound 5e with 2-chloroacrylonitrile furnished 11-chloro-7,13-dihydro-4-hydroxy-methyl-5,14-methano-1,7-dimethyl-16-oxopyrido[3′,4′:9,8][1,5,6]oxadiazonino[3,4-b]quinoxaline 7.     

Fulven-Dimere: Synthese,Strukturbeweis and thermisches Verhalten

Fulvene-Dieters: Synthesis, Structure Elucidation and Thermal Behaviour In contrast to earlier assumptions, thermal reaction of pure fulvene ( 1a ), 6-methylfulvene ( lb ) and 6, 6-dimethylfuivene ( 1c ) at 227deg; gives oligomeric mixtures consisting mainly of the endo-[4 + 2]-eycloaddition products 2a , 2b and 2c . Thermal reactivity of the fulvenes decreases strongly in the series 1a > 1b > 1c . While the dimers 2b and 2c equilibrate very easily in solution above room temperature with 1b and 1c , respectively, 2a equilibrates with the isomer 5a (? 1, 6-Dimethyliden3a α, 3bβ, 6a α, 6bβ-tetrahydro-1-H), 6 H-bi (cyclopentadienylen). This surprising rearrangement envolves a formal 1,3-shift of the 1, 2-dihydrofulvene-unit of 2a (s. Scheme 4).     

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Structural Characterization of two Hybrid Keggin-based Polyoxometalates

Two new hybrid polyoxotungstates, [Co（2,2＇-bipy）3][a-H5PW11CoO40]-3H2O 1 and [Fe（2,2＇-bipy）3]2[a-HBW12O40]-2.5H2O 2 （2,2＇-bipy = 2,2＇-dipyridyl）, have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by IR, TGA and single-crystal X-ray structural analyses. The results of X-ray crystallography analyses exhibit that 1 consists of one a-Keggin anion [a-H5PW11CoO40]2- and one isolated [Co（2,2＇-bipy）3]2＋ complex, while 2 is constructed from one a-Keggin anion [a- HBW12O40]4- and two isolated [Fe（2,2＇-bipy）3]2＋ cations. The data for 1： orthorhombic system, space group Pbcn, a = 16.062（6）, b = 27.278（10）, c = 16.951（6）A, V = 7427（5）A3 and Z = 4; and those for 2： triclinic system, space group P1, a = 13.787（3）, b = 17.857（5）, c = 18.918（5）A, a = 88.009（12）, β = 72.768（10）, γ = 74.935（10）°, V = 4291（2）A3 and Z = 2.     

Thermal reaction of [3,4]-benzo-8-substituted-3Z,5Z,7E-octatetraenes and quantum-chemical study of the (8π,6π)-electrocyclisation

The first example of thermal (8π,6π)-electrocyclisation of 1,3,5,7-octatetraene with one double bond embedded in an aromatic moiety is described. By this process, [3,4]-benzo-8-substituted octatetraene derivatives, the cis,trans-1-(o-vinylphenyl)-4-(R = Me, Ph, 2-furyl)buta-1,3-dienes were transformed to a new endo-7-(R = Me, Ph, 2-furyl) and exo-7-(R = Me)-2,3-benzobicyclo[4.2.0]octa-2,4-dienes. Mechanism of reaction was also studied by DFT quantum-chemical calculations. The M06/6-311+G(d,p)//M06/6-31+G(d,p) calculations indicate that formation of the single endo-isomer in the case of phenyl and 2-furyl substituents is determined by higher activation barriers for exo-6π-electrocyclisation than for 8π-cycloreversion.     

Eine Synthese methylierter Epoxyhydroazulenone durch intramolekulare [4 + 3]-Cycloaddition einer aus 1,1-Dichloro-6-(3-methylfur-2-yl)hexan-2-on erzeugten Oxyallyl-Zwischenstufe

A synthesis of Methylated Epoxyhydroazulenones by Intramolecular [4 + 3] Cycloaddition of an Oxyallyl Intermediate, Generated from 1,1-Dichloro-6-(3-methyl-2-furyl)hexan-2-one (Z)-3-Methylpent-2-en-4-yn-1-ol ( 7 ) was transformed to 2-(4-chlorobutyl)-3-methylfuran ( 4b ) and 2-(but-3-enyl)-3-methylfuran ( 10a ) by C-alkylation and 5-exo-dig cyclization. The Grignard derivative formed from 4b gave 1,1-dichloro-6-(3-methylfur-2-yl)hexan-2-onc ( 1b ) on reaction with dichloroacetyl chloride. This dichloromethyl ketone undergoes a base-induced cyclization to form diastereoisomeric 7-chloro-1,2,3,6,7,8a-hexahydro-4-methyl-8H-3a,6-epoxyazulen-8-ones ( 3bα and 3bβ ) by way of an intramolecular [4+3] cycloaddition of an oxyallyl intermediate 2b. By dechlorination and hydrogenation of 3bβ , the tricyclic hydroepoxyazulenones 18 and 19 have been synthesized.     

Conformational studies on peptides containing α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids: chiral cyclic α,α-disubstituted α-amino acid as an α-helical inducer

Four types of α,α-disubstituted amino acids {i.e., α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib), 1-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (Ac(5)c), (3S,4S)-1-amino-(3,4-dimethoxy)cyclopentanecarboxylic acid [(S,S)-Ac(5)c(dOM)] and its enantiomer (R,R)-Ac(5)c(dOM)} were introduced into l-leucine-based hexapeptides and nonapeptides. The dominant conformations of eight peptides: Cbz-(L-Leu-L-Leu-dAA)(2)-OMe [dAA = 1: Aib; 2: Ac(5)c; 3: (S,S)-Ac(5)c(dOM); 4: (R,R)-Ac(5)c(dOM)] and Boc-(L-Leu-L-Leu-dAA)(3)-OMe [dAA = 5: Aib; 6: Ac(5)c; 7: (S,S)-Ac(5)c(dOM); 8: (R,R)-Ac(5)c(dOM)], were investigated by IR, CD spectra and X-ray crystallographic analysis. The CD spectra revealed that Aib hexapeptide 1 and Ac(5)c hexapeptide 2 formed right-handed (P) 3(10)-helices, while Ac(5)c(dOM) hexapeptides 3 and 4 formed a mixture of (P) 3(10)- and α-helices. The Aib nonapeptide 5 formed a (P) 3(10)-helix, the Ac(5)c nonapeptide 6 formed a mixture of (P) 3(10)- and α-helices, and the Ac(5)c(dOM) nonapeptides 7 and 8 formed (P) α-helices. X-Ray crystallographic analysis revealed that the Aib hexapeptide 1 formed a (P) 3(10)-helix, while (S,S)-Ac(5)c(dOM) hexapeptide 3 formed a (P) α-helix. In addition, the Ac(5)c nonapeptide 6 and (R,R)-Ac(5)c(dOM) nonapeptide 8 formed (P) α-helices. The Aib and achiral Ac(5)c residues have the propensity to form 3(10)-helices in short peptides, whereas the chiral Ac(5)c(dOM) residues have a penchant for forming α-helices.     

Synthesis of Nitriles of δδ-Oxocarboxylic and γγ-Nitrocarboxylic Acids

A cyanoethylation of 2-acetyl-5-R-furans, 1-nitro-2(5-R-2-furyl)ethanes, and 2-nitro-1-(2-furyl)propane was investigated. The optimum conditions were determined for preparation of monocyanoethylated products: nitriles of 5-oxo-5-(5-R-2-furyl)pentanoic and 4-nitro-5-(5-R-2-furyl)pentanoic acids. The cyanoethylation of furyl-containing nitroethanes with excess acrylonitrile provided bisadducts, dinitriles of 4-nitro-4-(5-R-furfuryl)heptanedionic acids.     

5α-androstano [3,2-b]pyridines, 5α-androstano[17,16-b]pyridines and androst-4 and 5-eno[17,16-b]pyridines

A new synthesis of 5α-androstano[3,2-b]pyridin-17β-ol acetate (VIa) and 17-methyl-5α-androstano[3,2-b]pyridin-17β-ol (VIb), first reported by Shimizu, Ohta, Ueno, and Takegoshi, was achieved. The analogous 5α - androstano[17,16-b]pyridin-3β-ol (XII), 5α-androstano[17,16-b]pyridin-3-one (XIVa), and androst-4-eno[17,16-b]pyridin-3-one (XIVb) were also prepared. An illustration of the method follows. Condensation of 3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one (VIIa) with 3-(2-furyl)acrolein afforded 16-[3-(2-furyl)-2-propenylidene]-3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one (VIIIa), the oxime (IXa) of which was thermally cyclized to 5α-androstano[17,16-b]-6′-(2-furyl)pyridin-3β-ol (Xa). 3β-Hydroxy-5α-androstano[17,16-b]pyridine-6′-carboxylic acid (XI) was obtained by ozonolysis of Xa. Thermal decarboxylation of XI gave XII. Cinnamaldehyde was used in place of 3-(2-furyl)acrolein to give the corresponding phenylpyridines.     

Synthesis of heterocycles from arylation products of unsaturated compounds: XVIII. 5-Arylfuran-2-carboxylic acids and their application in the synthesis of 1,2,4-thiadiazole, 1,3,4-oxadiazole,and [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>][1,3,4]thiadiazole derivatives

Arylation of furan-2-carboxylic acid or its methyl ester with arenediazonium chlorides in the presence of copper(II) chloride gave the corresponding 5-arylfuran-2-carboxylic acids or methyl 5-arylfuran-2-carboxylates. 5-Arylfuran-2-carbonyl chlorides reacted with potassium thiocyanate and then with 5-methyl-1,2-oxazol-3-amine to give 5-aryl-N-[3-(2-oxopropyl)-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl]furan-2-carboxamides as a result of recyclization of intermediate isoxazolylthiourea derivatives. The reactions of 5-arylfuran-2-carbonyl chlorides with 5-(2-furyl)-1H-tetrazole involved opening of the tetrazole ring with elimination of nitrogen molecule and led to the formation of 2-(5-arylfuran-2-yl)-5-(2-furyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles. 3-Substituted 6-(5-arylfuran-2-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles were obtained by condensation of 5-arylfuran-2-carboxylic acids with 5-substituted 4-amino-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols in phosphoryl chloride.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial study of linked heterocyclics containing Pyrazole-pyrimidine-thiazolidin-4-one

A new series of linked heterocyclics, 3-[4-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-(3,5-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H-4-pyrazolyl)-2-pyrimidinyl]-2-(aryl/heteryl)-1,3-thiazolan-4-ones (6a-j), has been synthesized by the one-pot cyclo-condensation of 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-(3,5-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H-4-pyrazolyl)-2-pyrimidinamine (5), aryl/heteroaryl aldehyde and thioglycolic acid. The structures of the synthesized compounds have been confirmed via IR, (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, MS and elemental analyses. Further, all the newly synthesized compounds 6a-j have been assayed for their antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The compounds containing moieties like 4-nitrophenyl (6c), 3-nitrophenyl (6d), 4-dimethylaminophenyl (6g), 2-furyl (6i) and 1,3-benzodioxole (6j), at 2-position of thiazolidin-4-one ring exhibited good inhibitory activity against all the tested organisms.     

Oxidative cyclization of 3-oxopropanenitriles with α,β-unsaturated amides by manganese(III) acetate. Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of 4-cyano-2,3-dihydrofuran-3-carboxamides

4-Cyano-2,3-dihydrofuran-3-carboxamides were obtained from the oxidative cyclization of 3-oxopropanenitriles with unsaturated amides using manganese(III) acetate. Treatment of 3-oxopropanenitriles with (2E)-3-(5-methyl-2-furyl)acrylamide and (2E)-3-(2-thienyl)acrylamide gave 2-(5-methyl-2-furyl) and 2-(2-thienyl) substituted 4-cyano-2,3-dihydrofuran-3-carboxamides in moderate yields, respectively. However, (2E)-3-(2-furyl)acrylamide and (2E)-3-phenylacrylamide did not produce any product under the same conditions. On the other hand, reaction of a dienamide such as (2E,4E)-5-phenylpenta-2,4-dienamide with 3-oxopropanenitriles gave diastereomeric mixtures of 2-(2-vinylphenyl)-4-cyano-2,3-dihydrofuran-3-carboxamides. Mechanisms are proposed for the formation of all of these compounds.