IV The use of tertiary amine in place of alkoxide as the condensation agent resulted in the formation of III in a 35% yield and of a small amount of orange crystals (V)(mp above 300 C), sparingly soluble in organic solvents. The reaction of 2-methoxytropone (Ic) with two molar equivalents of ethyl cyanoacetate, in the presence of two molar equivalents of sodium ethoxide, afforded III in a 5% yield and a 7% yield of orange crystals (VI), CuHi2-02N2, of ...