Abstract: A number of compounds with a 2-pyridone structure 3, which have different substituents and are analogous to cardiotonic drugs like milrinone, have been synthesized in high yields from the appropriate enamino ketones 2 using different cyanomethylene active compounds (methyl cyanoacetate, benzoylacetonitrile and phenylsulfonylacetonitrile). In this synthetic route, the active role of the dimethylamine released in situ on the cyclization ...