3-(Hydrazonoethyl) and 3-(hvdrazonobutyI) tetramic acids 6 -11 are prepared by condensation reaction of N,3diacetyl and N-acetyl-3-butanoyl tetramic acids, 4 and 5, with a variety of 1,2-(bis)-nucleophiles. The structure elucidation and the tautomeric equilibrium of the novel compounds 6-11 have been studied using 'H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy. Ο CH 2 R= Me 3 R= Pr COCH 3 COCH, 7 J 1 4 R= Me 5 R= Pr 6 R-Me,