Preparation, Structure, and Reactions of Halomalondialehdes

The present progress report provides a survey of the synthesis, structure, and reactions of halomalondialdehydes, including “cyanomalondialdehyde” (diformylacetonitrile), the only pseudohalogen compound so far known in this series. Halomalondialdehydes are reactive compounds, applicable in a variety of ways, and are characterized particularly by their cyclizations with bifunctional compounds. Many of the reactions discussed below can be applied to substituted malondialdehydes other than those specified.