A facile synthesis of 5-[(arylamino)(cyano)methylene]-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones

Treatment of 5-(4-chloro-5H-1,2,3-dithiazol-5-ylidene)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione with primary arylamines in CH2Cl2 at rt gave 5-[(arylamino)(cyano)methylene]-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diones in excellent yields. The latter compounds were utilized for the preparation of 2-cyano-4-quinolinones.