Treatment of the novel compound 2-cyano-1-oxo-1H-indene-3-acetonitrile (3) with various reagents affords a variety of heterocyclic compounds in which the indenone system is incorporated into polycyclic compounds of potential pharmacological interest. ... Aroyl acetonitriles (ω-cyanoacetophenone and its derivatives) are versatile reagents and find many ... We have carried out intensive studies with activated nitriles as potential intermediates for the ... * To whom correspondence ...