Acid treatment of β (3 acetoxyindol 2 yl) α cyanoacrylic acid derivatives (ethyl ester and nitrile) with aqueous or gaseous HCl afforded novel 3 substituted 2 oxo 2,5 dihydropyra no[3,2 b]indoles. 2 Oxo 2,5 dihydropyrano[3,2 b]indole 3 carbonitrile was converted into ethyl 2 oxo 2,5 dihydropyrano[3,2 b]indole 3 carboximidate.