Effect of solvent on the regioselective synthesis of spiropyrazoles

1,3-Dipolarcycloaddition reactions of 6-arylmethylene-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzocyclohepten-5-ones (1) with nitrilimines 3 were investigated in benzene and chloroform. The reaction products were 2′,4′,6,7,8,9-hexahydro-2′,4′,5′-triaryl spiro[benzocycloheptene-6(5H),3′(3H-pyrazol)-5-ones (4) or 2′,3′,6,7,8,9-hexahydro-2′,3′,5′-triaryl spiro[benzocycloheptene-6(5H),4′(4H-pyrazol)-5-ones (5). X-ray crystallographic analysis was carried out for compound 5b. It was found that the regioselectivity of the produced compounds was altered based on changing solvent type.