The reaction of 1-ethoxycarbonylaziridine with malononitrile in the presence of sodium hydride gave 2-amino-3-cyano-1-ethoxycarbonyl-4, 5-dihydropyrrole (IIa) in 47% yield. Similarly, 1-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methyl (or phenyl) aziridine reacted with malononitrile to give 2-amino-3-cyano-5-methyl (or 4-phenyl)-4, 5-dihydropyrrole (IIb or c). Compounds IIa-c were dehydrogenated to the corresponding pyrroles (IVa-c) when heated with chloranil in benzene. 2-Amino-3-cyano-1-ethoxycarbonyl-4-phenylpyrrole (IVc) was also synthesized from ethyl N-phenacylcarbamate and malononitrile. The 2-benzamido derivatives of IIa-c reacted with N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of 2, 2'-azobisisobutyronitrile to produce the corresponding 2-benzamido-3-cyano-1-ethoxycarbonylpyrroles (Va-c) as major products.