Reactions of 4-arylamino-2-tert-butyl-5-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl acetates with an equimolar amount of aromatic or heterocyclic amine in toluene involves initial attack of the amine on the C2 atom of the furan ring, followed by opening of the furan ring and elimination of acetic acid to give N-aryl(hetaryl)-2-arylamino-5,5-dimethyl-4-oxohex-2-enamides.