In the presence of nickel acetylacetonate, β-dicarbonyl compounds readily add at the nitrile group of 4-R-3-cyanofurazans to form enaminofurazans. The adducts obtained from 4-amino-3-cyanofurazan underwent intramolecular cyclization on heating with AcOH in EtOH to give furazano[3,4- b ]pyridine derivatives in high yields.
Derivatives of furazano[4,5-b]pyridine have been synthesized by condensation of 3-amino-4-cyanofurazan with beta-dicarbonyl compounds.