STUDIES WITH 3-OXOALKANENITRILES - SYNTHESIS OF NEW PYRAZOLO[1,5-A]PYRIMIDINES AND PYRAZOLO[5,1-C]-1,2,4-TRIAZINES AND REACTIVITY OF 4-PHENYL-3-OXOBUTANENITRILE DERIVATIVES

4-Phenyl-3-oxobutanenitrile is synthesized via the reaction of ethyl p henylacetate with acetonitrile in the presence of sodium hydride and i dentified by isolating its 2-phenylhydrazone and dimethylaminomethylid ene derivatives; both the hydrazone and dimethylaminomethylidene deriv atives prove versatile starting materials for the synthesis of a varie ty of polyfunctionally substituted heterocycles.