Phenacylmalononitrile 1 reacts with dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal to yield an enaminone which could be readily converted into a pyrrole or an aminopyridazine by treating with ammonium acetate and hydrazine hydrate, respectively. Compound 1 reacted with hydrazine hydrate in ethanol at room temperature to yield the dihydropyridazine 9 as a single product. In refluxing ethanol this product further