Scope and limitations of a novel synthesis of 3-arylazonicotinates.

The reaction of 3-oxo-3-phenyl-2-phenylhydrazonal with functionally substituted and heteroaromatic substituted acetonitrile to yield arylazonicotinic acid derivatives and 5-arylsubstituted pyridines was established. In some cases the produced nicotinates could not be isolated as they underwent thermally induced 6π-electrocyclization yielding polynuclear pyridine derivatives.