The name vinamidines has been proposed for 1,5‐diazapentadienes: these compounds can be regarded as vinylogous amidines and at the same time as push‐pull substituted (and thereby stabilized) alkenes. Vinamidine and vinamidinium structural elements may also form part of a ring system. Characteristic of this class of compounds are their reactivity toward electrophiles (at Cβ) and nucleophiles (Cα) and their regenerative character, i.e. their tendency to undergo substitution instead of addition reactions. Reactions of vinamidinium salts with nucleophiles are of special preparative value: they lead e.g. to pyrazoles, oxazoles, pyrimidines, diazepines, quinolines, and quinolizines.