Novel 3-acetyl-2-aminothiophenes were prepared from cyanoacetone and 1,4-dithianyl-2,5-diols using a modified Gewald reaction. The syntheses of the corresponding acetamides, as well as that of 3-acetyl-2-amino-5-nitrothiophene - an interesting building-block for thiophene azo dyes - are reported. Detailed spectroscopic investigations ((1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, MS, IR) of the obtained compounds are presented.