We have studied the reactions of 1,3-indandione (I), 2-methyI-l,3-indandione (II) and 2,2-dimethy!-l,3-indandione (III) with maloncnitrile and metliyi cyanoacetate. Both, I and II, reacted with malononitrile to give several compounds. The reaction of methyi cyano¬acetate with I gave a dark, resinous material under similar conditions, while II gave mono imine of the indandione in poor yield. The reaction of III with malononitrile and methyi cyanoaceta¬te did not take place. The structure of the compounds were confirmed on the hasis of IR, UV, lHNMR and mass spectral studies