Hydrolysis of 6,6-dimethyl-4,8-dioxo-5,7-dioxaspiro[2.5]octane-1,1,2,2-tetracarbonitrile

Hydrolysis of 6,6-dimethyl-4,8-dioxo-5,7-dioxaspiro[2.5]octane-1,1,2,2-tetracarbonitrile in aqueous dioxane in the presence of hydrogen bromide gave a mixture of 2,2,3,3-tetracyanocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid and ammonium 3-cyano-4-dicyanomethylidene-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-2-olate. Hydrolysis of the same compound in the presence of sulfuric acid was accompanied by nitrogen migration and led to the formation of (1R*,2S*,3S*)-1,3-dicyanocyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxamide whose structure was proved by X-ray analysis.