CYCLOCONDENSATION OF ALKYLHYDRAZINES AND BETA-SUBSTITUTED ACETYLENIC ESTERS - SYNTHESIS OF 3-HYDROXYPYRAZOLES

Addition of monosubstituted alkylhydrazines to acetylenic esters with either electron-withdrawing or sterically bulky beta-substituents afforded 1-alkyl-3-hydroxy-5-substituted-pyrazoles 1 as the major regioisomeric product. By comparison, the classical cyclocondensation of alkylhydrazines with beta-keto esters gives the regioisomeric pyrazol-5-ones 2. The reaction solvent employed in these cyclocondensations can have a profound effect on regioisomeric product ratios. Addition of methylhydrazine to 5g in methylene chloride gave regiospecific formation of pyrazolinone 2o, whereas addition in water-methanol mixtures afforded hydroxypyrazole 1o as the major product. Structural assignment of regioisomers 1 and 2 are based on C-13 NMR chemical shifts, long-range heteronuclear coupling constants, and comparisons with regiochemically known hydroxypyrazoles and/or pyrazolinones. Additions of acetylene 5b to 1,1-dimethylhydrazine afforded either acyclic enehydrazone 12 or pyrazolium betaine 13 depending on the reaction conditions.