Unexpected cyclization route for o-ethynylbenzoic acids hydrazides in the presence of base

The reaction of o-ethynylbenzoic acids hydrazides with base has been studied. In the presence of a strong donor substituent (1,5-dimethylpyrazol-4-yl) it has been found that an unusual cyclization route occurs to give the corresponding benzopyridazinone instead of the expected isoindolinone. Dedicated to Academician B. A. Trofimov in his 70^th jubilee. Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 67-70, January, 2009.