An efficient route to 3-aminoindazoles and 3-amino-7-azaindazoles

A non-acidic procedure for the preparation of 3-aminoindazoles and 3-amino-7-azaindazoles from 2-fluoroaryl carboxylic acids is reported. The synthesis starts from readily available starting materials and uses mild and practical reaction conditions in a three-step overall procedure. Products were isolated for a number of examples, but yields varied significantly depending on electronic nature of the substituents.