Direct Synthesis of Pyrazoles via reaction of C-ethoxycarbonyl-N-arylnitrilimines with benzalmalononitriles and some α-cyanocinnamic acid derivatives

Reaction of C-ethoxycarbonyl-N-arylnitrilimines ( 2a–d ) with α, β-disubstituted acrylonitriles ( 3a–f ) in refluxing benzene affords the corresponding substituted pyrazoles 5a–f and 6a–c respectively in good yield. However, reaction of 2a–e with 3g gives the 2-pyrazoline derivatives 7a–d . The assigned structures for the products 5–7 were confirmed by their spectra (i.r., ¹H-n.m.r.) and elemental analyses. Also the structures of the pyrazoles 5 were substantiated by comparison with their regioisomeres 8 .