1,2-Diketone monophenylhydrazones (2) reacted with aminomalonamide in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone to provide 1-H-imidazole-2-carboxamides (4). The condensation of 1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propanone with phenyldiazonium chloride gave 1-phenylhydrazono-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propanone (2a). 4-Methyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-1H-imidazole-2-carboxamide (4a) was converted to the corresponding nitrile (5a) by the action of phosphorous oxychloride.