A facile synthesis of pyrazoles with multi-point structural diversity by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

We describe the synthesis of diverse pyrazoles by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of ethyl diazoacetate with various acetylenes in refluxing toluene. The product pyrazoles are useful starting points for preparing a diverse collection of trisubstituted pyrazole carboxamides. For aryl and heteroaryl alkynes a single product is obtained while alkyl alkynes afford a ca. 6:1 mixture of regioisomers. The observed regioselectivity for the cycloaddition step and the ease of reaction are consistent with predictions derived from computing the HOMO–LUMO energies of the reactants.