Condensation of β-amino-α,γ-dicyanocrotononitrile (1) with acetophenone gave 2-amino-4-phenylpenta-1,3-diene-1,1,3-tricarbonitrile (2). The latter product was used in a series of heterocyclization reactions with different reagents such as diazonium salts, hydrazines, hydroxylamines and elemental sulfur to give pyridazine, pyrazole, isoxazole and thiophene derivatives, respectively. On the other hand, it gave pyridine derivatives with aromatic aldehydes folowed by reaction with cyanomethylene reagents. The