Straightforward and Efficient Protocol for the Synthesis of Pyrazolo [4,3-b]pyridines and Indazoles

An efficient method for the synthesis of pyrazolo [4,3-b]pyridines has been developed on the basis of readily available 2-chloro-3-nitropyridines via a sequence of SNAr and modified Japp–Klingemann reactions. The method offers a number of advantages including utilization of stable arenediazonium tosylates, operational simplicity as well as combining the azo-coupling, deacylation and pyrazole ring annulation steps in a one-pot manner. An unusual rearrangement (C-N-migration of the acetyl group) was observed and a plausible mechanism was proposed based on the isolated intermediates and NMR experiments. In addition, the developed protocol was successfully applied to the synthesis of 1-arylindazoles combining the Japp–Klingemann reaction and cyclization of the resulting hydrazone as a one-pot procedure.