One-pot cascade assembling of 3-substituted tetracyanocyclopropanes from alkylidenemalononitriles and malononitrile by the only bromine direct action

The new cascade reaction was found: the formation of cyclopropanes from alkylidenemalononitriles and malononitrile by the only bromine direct action; the action of aqueous bromine on the equal amounts of alkylidenemalononitriles and malononitrile in EtOH–H₂O solutions results in the formation of 3-substituted 1,1,2,2-tetracyanocyclopropanes in 55–98% yields.