Abstract
Benzoylacetonitriles are easily available and have high chemical reactivity due to the presence of three active moieties; nitrile, carbonyl, and active methylene functions. This review article represents a survey covering the synthetic strategies leading to five six-membered heterocycles; pyrans, pyridazines, pyrimidines, pyrazines, and triazine compounds; utilizing benzoylacetonitriles as starting precursor since 1985. The reactions are subdivided into groups that cover the synthetic methods of these heterocycles.