The cyclization of acetoacetanilide (I, R= H) was first carried out by Knorr, 2 who subsequently demonstrateda that it was a reaction generally applicable to acetoacetylated aryl amines possessing a vacant ortho position. Although the aryl portion of the molecule has been varied widely, a survey of the literature shows that few attempts have been made to prepare acetoacetanilides carrying alkyl groups in the alpha position. Accordingly, ...
