Conor N. O’Callaghan, T. Brian H. McMurry and John E. O’Brien
When 2-imino-2H-benzopyran-3-carboxamide 1 (X = H) is dissolved in [2H6]dimethyl sulfoxide, NMR spectra show that a mixture of 1 and the isomeric 2-cyano-3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-ene-1-carboxamide 3 (X = H) is present. Other benzopyran-2-imines behave similarly; the degree of isomerisation varies considerably, depending on the nature and position of the substituents present.