Synthesis of conjugated polynitriles by the reactions of β-dimethylaminoacrolein aminal and 1-dimethylamino-1,3,3-trimethoxypropane with 2-dicyanomethylene-4,5,5-trimethyl-3-cyano-2,5-dihydrofuran

The title reaction gives, depending on conditions, either a substituted tetraenic ω-dimethylaminodinitrile or a substituted 1,1,3,11,13,13-hexacyanotrideca-1,3,5,7,9,11-hexaenide salt; a series of new cation–anionic polymethyne dyes have been obtained from the latter.