The products obtained when o-nitrocinnamates are reduced by means of sodium borohydride and palladium–charcoal depend on the nature of the solvent used. When ethyl trans-α-cyano-o-nitrocinnamate was reduced by this method, one of the products isolated was 3-cyano-1-hydroxyquinol-2(1H)-one, the formation of which involved a smooth trans–cis isomerisation.