The reactions of 4-aminobenzoic and 4-aminophenylacetic acids amides with maleic anhydride yielded the corresponding monoamides of maleic acid, the cyclization of which gave amides of 4-(2,5-dihydro-2,5-dioxo1 H -pyrrol-1-yl)benzoic and 4-(2,5-dihydro-2,5-dioxo-1 H -pyrrol-1-yl)phenylethanoic acids. Their reactions with secondary amines afforded the corresponding 4-(3-dialkylamino-2,5-dioxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1 H -pyrrol-1-yl) benzoic and 4-(3-dialkylamino-2, 5-dioxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1 H -pyrrol-1-yl)phenylethanoic acids amides.