The title carbonitriles (III) are readily converted into novel fused thiopyranthione (V) and thiophene derivatives (VI). The Gewald reaction of nitrile (IIIb) with sulfur fails. -(MARUOKA*, H.; OKABE, F.; YAMASAKI, K.; MASUMOTO, E.; FUJIOKA, T.; YAMAGATA, K.; Heterocycles 81 (2010) 3, 675-688,