Intramolecular Cycloaddition Approach to Fused Pyrazoles: Access to 4,5-Dihydro-2H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolines, 2,8-Dihydroindeno[2,1-c]pyrazoles, and 4,5-Dihydro-2H-benzo[e]indazoles

A straightforward and efficient method for the synthesis of pyrazoles fused with 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline, 2,3-dihydro-1H-indene­, or 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene involves the formation of the tosylhydrazone from an aromatic substrate carrying aldehyde and acetylenic functionalities at appropriate positions, followed by base-promoted generation of the diazo compound and subsequent intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. A number of functional groups were found to be compatible for this reaction sequence and yields were moderate to very good (44–95%). A plausible reaction mechanism supported by DFT calculations has been provided to explain the formation of products.