One-pot three-component reaction of isocyanides, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and phthalhydrazide: synthesis of highly functionalized 1H-pyrazolo[1,2-b]phthalazine-5,10-diones

Protonation of the highly reactive 1:1 intermediate produced in the reaction between alkyl isocyanides and electron-deficient acetylenic esters with phthalhydrazide, leads to a vinylisonitrilium cation, which undergoes an addition reaction with the conjugate base of the phthalhydrazide to produce dialkyl 3-(alkylamino)-5,10-dioxo-5,10-dihydro-1H-pyrazolo1,2-b]phthalazine-1,2-dicarboxylates in fairly good yields at room temperature.