The condensation of β-diketones, benzoylacetone (II), acetylacetone (III), or 6-phenyl-2, 4- hexanedione (IV) with benzylidenaniline (I), in the presence of three moles of potassium amide in liquid ammonia, was found to give a dihydropyridone or an aminodiketone. Thus, the condensation of II with I afforded aminodiketone, 1-anilino-1, 5-diphenyl-3, 5- pentanedione (V), which cyclized to 2, 3-dihydro-1, 2, 6-triphenyl-4-pyridone (IX) upon ...