Michael condensation of 3’,4’-dimethylbenzalacetophenone (I) with ethyl cyanoacetate in the presence of ammonium acetate leads to the formation of 6-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-2-hydroxy 4-phenyl nicotinonitrile (II), 6-(3,4-dimethylphenyl-1,2-dihydro-4-phenyl-2-oxonicotinonitrile (III) and ethyl 2-amino-6-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-4-phenyl nicotinate (IV). The reaction of II with alkyl halides, phosphorus oxychloride and Grignard reagents gives the 2-alkoxy-(VI)-, 2-chloro-(VII)- and the 3—acyl-(IX)-derivatives. Reactions of VII with amines and hydrazine hydrate, IXb with hydrazine hydrate, hydroxylamine hydrochloride and thiourea, III with ethyl bromoacetate, phosphorus oxychloride, and Grignard reagent and IV with acetyl chloride are described.


M EL-MOBAYAD ,G H SAYED ,S EL-NAGDY ,