New practical synthesis of indazoles via condensation of o-fluorobenzaldehydes and their O-methyloximes with hydrazine

The reaction of o-fluorobenzaldehydes and their O-methyloximes with hydrazine has been developed as a new practical synthesis of indazoles. Utilization of the methyloxime derivatives of benzaldehydes (in the form of the major E-isomers) in this condensation effectively eliminated a competitive Wolf-Kishner reduction to fluorotoluenes, which was observed in the direct preparations of indazoles from aldehydes. Reaction of Z-isomers of methyloximes with hydrazine resulted in the formation of 3-aminoindazoles via a benzonitrile intermediate.