Acylpyruvic acids amides and hydrazides: VIII. Synthesis of pivaloylpyruvamides and their reactions with benzylamine and arylamines

Pivaloylpyruvamides were obtained by reaction of pivaloylpyruvic acid with ammonia, primary and secondary amines. The amides in solutions exist as an equilibrium tautomeric mixture of ketoenol and minor beta -diketone forms. The pivaloylpyruvamides under mild conditions react with benzylamine or ary lamines to furnish products of substitution at the alpha -carbonyl group, t he corresponding amides of (Z)-2-benzylamino- or 2-arylamino-5,5-dimethyl-4 -oxo-2-hexenoic acid. The latter also exist in solutions as two tautomers. The amides synthesized possess a biological activity.