Abstract Reaction of various active methylene compounds with ketene dithioacetals, bis (methylthio) methylenemalononitrile (1a) and bis (methylthio) methylenecyanoacetamide (1b) gave the corresponding 3-cyano-4-methylthio-2 (1H)-pyridone derivatives. The transformation of 4-methylthio-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitrile in-to 4-methylthio-2 (1H)- pyridone derivatives was also described.