The kinetics of reactions between benzaldehyde and diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate with para-substituted
anilines for the one-pot formation of 3,4,5-substituted furan-2(5H)-ones have been studied spectrally at
different temperatures in formic acid. For all substituents at the para position of the aniline ring, the
reaction followed second-order kinetics. The partial orders with respect to substituted aniline and diethyl
acetylenedicarboxylate were one and one, and the reactions also revealed zero-order kinetics in relation
to benzaldehyde. Para-electron donating substituents on the aniline ring increased the rate of reaction.
On the basis of experimental data, a three step mechanism has been proposed. Kinetic values (k and Ea)
and associated activation parameters (DHs, DGs and DSs) of the reactions were determined
