| Abstract: | It is shown in the case of the reaction of N-methylbutyro-, N-methylvalero-, and N-methylcaprolactam diethylacetals with benzyl cyanide that the five-membered acetal is the most reactive in the reaction with compounds having an active methylene link. 1-Methyl-3-(Ωphenyl-Ω-benzoxymethylene)-2-pyrrolidone is primarily formed in the reaction of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone diethylacetal with C6H5COCl. The reaction of N-methylcaprolactam diethylacetal with acrylonitrile gives a mixture of N-methylcaprolactam, 1-methyl-2-ethoxy-3-(Β-cyanoethyl)-4, 5,6,7-tetrahydroazepine, and 2-methyl-1,9-dehydro-9-cyano-2-azabicyclo-5.2.0] nonane. |
