A convenient synthesis of pyridazine-3,4-dicarboxylic acid by a hetero diels-alder reaction

A convenient route to prepare unsubstituted pyridazine-3,4-dicarboxylic acid on a preparative scale is described. The synthesis involves a hetero Diels-Alder reaction between a new 1,2-diaza-1,3-diene and ethyl vinyl ether and oxidation of the intermediate 1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridazine as the key step.