Abstract
[Display omitted]
Herein, we report a simple and efficient method for the transmonocyanoacetylation of phenylenediamines using inexpensive, commercially available 1-cyanoacetyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazole as a cyanoacetylating agent. This method provides operationally simple and efficient access to N-(aminophenyl)-2-cyanoacetamides under mild conditions with short reaction times. Also, a series of novel N-(functionalized phenyl)-2-cyanoacetamide derivatives have been synthesized through the reaction of N-(4-aminophenyl)-2-cyanoacetamide with various electrophiles, such as carbonyl, acyl chloride, and isothiocyanate derivatives. In all cases, good yields of products were obtained and reaction times were significantly reduced compared with similar reactions.