Reaction of 4-substituted I-benzylidenesemicarbazide derivatives with acrylonitrile affords the corresponding 2-(2-cyanoethyl) derivatives which can be cyclised to the appropriate 5, 6- dihydrouracil derivatives. Acyl derivatives of ureas and substituted guanidines do not react with acrylonitrile; under analogous conditions, arylsulfonylureas, arylsulfonylsemicarbazides and arylsulfonylthiosemicarbazides split off the carbamoyl (thiocarbamoyl) group to afford ...