Reactions with activated nitriles: A new route for the synthesis of new pyridine and pyrazolopyridine derivatives

It has been found that α, β-unsaturated nitrile derivatives1–3 reacted with S-methylisothiourea to give the propene derivatives4–6 respectively. Cyclisation of4–6 using ethanolic hydrochloric acid afforded the pyridine derivatives7–9 in good yields. On the other hand, the reactions of hydrazine hydrate and of phenylhydrazine with each of7–9 gave the corresponding pyrazolopyridine derivatives10–15. The structures of the newly synthesised derivatives were assigned on the basis of elemental analyses, IR and¹H-NMR spectral data studies.