Lewis acid-mediated [3+2] cycloaddition between hydrazones and olefins

[3+2] Cycloaddition between hydrazones and olefins was accelerated in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of BF3·OEt2 or a catalytic amount of Zr(OTf)4, Hf(OTf)4, or Sc(OTf)3 under mild conditions. The corresponding pyrazolidine derivatives were obtained in moderate to high yields using this novel [3+2] Lewis acid catalysis.