A short route to 3-alkynyl-4-bromo(chloro)cinnolines by Richter-type cyclization of ortho-(dodeca-1,3-diynyl)aryltriaz-1-enes

Cleavage of ortho-(dodeca-1,3-diynyl)triazenes in HCl or HBr medium and subsequent cyclization of the resulting diazonium salts is investigated. In the absence of a strong electron-withdrawing substituent, the reaction affords 3-alkynyl-4-bromo(chloro)cinnolines as the only product. A methoxycarbonyl group promotes hydrolysis of 4-halocinnolines which results in the formation of by-products: furo3,2-c]cinnoline and cinnolinone. Substitution of bromine in 3-(alk-1-ynyl)-4-bromocinnolines is achieved with methylamine, Na₂S and ethynylbenzene affording pyrrolo3,2-c]cinnoline, thieno3,2-c]cinnoline and 3,4-diethynylcinnoline, respectively.