Chemistry of iminofurans: XI. Synthesis, structure, and cyclization of 4-substituted 2-(aroylhydrazinylidene)-4-oxobutanoic acids

Aromatic hydrazides reacted with 4-aryl-2-hydroxy-4-oxobut-2-enoic and 2-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl- 4-oxohex-2-enoic acids to give 4-aryl-2-(2-aroylhydrazinylidene)-4-oxobutanoic and 5,5-dimethyl-2-(aroylhydrazinylidene)- 4-oxohexanoic acids. The products were found to exist in solution as mixtures of Z/E-hydrazinylidene and cyclic dihydropyrazole tautomers, and they underwent intramolecular cyclization to 5-aryland 5-tert-butyl-3-(aroylhydrazinylidene)furan-2(3H)-ones by the action of acetic anhydride.