Abstract: The invention relates to novel substituted optically active aminotriazines having at least two asymmetrically substituted carbon atoms of the formula (I), in which A represents a single bond or represents in each case straight-chain or branched alkanediyl or oxaalkanediyl having in each case up to 6 carbon atoms, Z represents certain carbocyclic or heterocyclic radicals and the substituents R1, R2, R3, R4 and Y are as defined in the description,  with the proviso that in each individual case R2, R3 and Y are different from one another and that the substituents at the two carbon atoms to which R2 and R3 or R4 are attached are configured as follows: (a) R configuration at the carbon atom to which R2 and R3 are attached and R configuration at the carbon atom to which R4 is attached (“R,R-diastereomers”), (b) R configuration at the carbon atom to which R2 and R3 are attached and S configuration at the carbon atom to which R4 is attached (“R,S-diastereomers”), (

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a 3-cyano-4-arylpyrrole of the formula ##STR1## in which Ar is optionally substituted heteroaryl or aryl, which comprises (a) reacting an .alpha.-cyanoacrylic acid derivative of the formula ##STR2## in which R.sup.1 is amino or alkoxy, with an isocyanoacetic acid ester of the formula ##STR3## in which R.sup.2 is alkyl, in the presence of a base thereby to produce a .DELTA..sup.2 -pyrroline-2-carboxylic acid derivative of the formula ##STR4## in which X represents hydrogen or an equivalent of an inorganic or organic cation,and (b) oxidatively decarboxylating the .DELTA..sup.2 -pyrroline-2-carboxylic -pyrroline-2-carboxylic acid. The end products are known fungicides and the intermediates IVa are new and themselves fungicidally active.