Ortho-aminobenzonitriles 1 react with β-ketoesters and alkyl malonates, in the presence of stoichiometric amounts of tin (IV) chloride, to give 4-aminoquinolines 2 and 4-amino-2- quinolones 3 respectively. Similarly β-enaminonitriles 7 afford 4-aminopyridines 8 and 4- amino-2-pyridones 9.