Pyrazolo [1,5-a]indole. 10. Mitteilung über metallogranische reaktionen und folgeprodukte

Pyrazolo1,5- a ]indoles Treatment of 1-(2-heteroaroyl or aroyl-phenyl)-pyrazoles ( 3 ) with potassium hydroxide in 95% ethanol or with sodium ethanolate in ethanol produces a novel ring closure to new 4-hydroxy-4-(4-heteroaryl or aryl)-4H-pyrazolo 1,5-a]indoles 5 and 6 (Table 1). A 2, 3, or 4-pyridyl at position 4 is easily reduced yielding the 4-(2, 3, or 4-piperidyl)-derivatives 7 and 8 (Table 2). Water is split off from these piperidyl-derivatives 7 or 8 to give the piperidylidene derivatives 9 or 10 (Table 3) which may be considered as heterocyclic analogues to known tricyclic psychopharmaceuticals with antidepressant or neuroleptic activities.