The synthesis of pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazoles. Regio- and stereo-selective 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of (1Z)-rel-(4R,5R)-1-arylmethylene-4-benzoylamino-5-phenyl-3-pyrazolidinon-1 -azomethinimines

Reaction of rel-(4R,5R)-4-benzoylamino-5-phenyl-3-pyrazolidinone (4) with aromatic aldehydes 5a-f gave the corresponding (1Z)-rel-(4R,5R)-1-arylmethylene-4-benzoylamino-5-phenyl-3-pyrazolidinon-1-azomethinimines 6a-f . 1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of azomethinimines 6a-f to various dipolarophiles, which were found to proceed regio- and stereo-selectively, afforded the corresponding pyrazolo1,2-a]-pyrazoles 8a-f, 10 , and 13–16 . Reaction of azomethinimine 6a with hydrogen cyanide gave rel-(5R,6R)-6-benzoylamino-5,6-dihydro-3,5-diphenyl-1-oxo-1H,7H-pyrazolo1,2-a]1,2,3]triazole (18) as a representative of a new ring system.