Chemistry of Ketoacetals: II. β,β′-Ketodiacetal and β,β′-Hydroxydiacetals in Reactions with Amminia and Amines

β,β′-Ketodiacetal and β,β′-hydroxydiacetals react with ammonium acetate in acetic acid to afford substituted pyridine, and with aromatic amines in the presence of hydrochloric acid form substituted pentamethine salts.