The para, meta ring disubstitution (methylenedioxy, 1p, 37%) endows a slightly higher reactivity than the open-chain variant. A complete replacement of the phenyl ring of 1a with a naphthyl ring (1q, 34%) impedes the reaction. The switching to a pyrrolyl ring (1r) furnishes a 40% yield, as is also observed for a furanyl ring (1s, 40%). Interestingly, a thiophenyl ring (1t) boosts the yield to the highest 52%. The broad substrate compatibility of the synthetic protocol reported herein is manifested by the smooth transformation of an alkyl enaminone structure (alteration of the phenyl ring in 1a to t Bu, 1u, 33%).