Iminofurans chemistry: IV. Synthesis and structure of 2-N-aryl-substituted derivatives of 2-amino-4-aryl-4-oxobut-2-enoic and 2-amino-5,5-dimethyl-4-oxohex-2-enoic acids

Reactions of arylamines with 4-aryl-2-hydroxy-4-oxobut-2-enoic and 2-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-4-oxohex-2-enoic acids gave rise to 4-aryl-2-arylamino-4-oxobut-2-enoic and 2-aryl-amino-5,5-dimethyl-4-oxohex-2-enoic acids that existed in solutions as Z- and E-isomers or in a ring form as 3-arylamino-5-tert-butyl-5-hydroxyfuran-2(5H)-ones. The probable cyclization mechanism of these compounds into 5-R-3-arylimino-3H-furan-2-one derivatives was considered.