The reaction of 2(3)-formylglycals with malononitrile afforded push-pull butadienes with a sugar moiety. The treatment of these branched-chain sugars with ammonia yielded nicotinonitrile acyclo-C-nucleosides. Furthermore, a one step ring transformation of 2(3)-formylglycals with N-aryl-acetoacetanilides to give pyridone acyclo-C-nucleosides is described.