Derivatives of 2-pyrazolin-5-one. V. Preparation and properties of 1′,2′-dihydrospiro[[2]pyrazoline-4,3′ (4′H)-quinoline]-5-one.derivatives and related compounds

1′,2′-Dihydro-3-methyl-1-phenylspiro[[2]pyrazoline-4,3′(4′H)-quinoline]-5-one (8q), the structurally related 1,3-diphenylspiro[pyrazolone-quinoline] 8r and numerous 2′-substituted derivatives of 8q and 8r are readily accessible from catalytic reduction of 3-methyl-1-phenyl- or 1,3-diphenyl-4-(2-nitrobenzyl)-2-pyrazolin-5-one (1a, 1b, respectively) in alcohols (with the incorporation of the alkylidene moiety) or by interaction of the corresponding 2-aminobenzyl precursors (3a, 3b) with appropriate aldehydes and ketones. All spiro compounds were characterized by mass, ir, and 1Hmr spectra. The products obtained by reducing the spiro compounds with sodium borohydride and with lithium aluminum hydride are described. Reduction of 1a and 1b with zinc and acetic acid gave 3-methyl-1-phenyl- and 1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline (2a, 2b, respectively).