One-pot parallel solution-phase synthesis of 1-substituted 4-(2-aminoethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-ols

Two variations of enaminone-based parallel solution-phase synthesis of 1-substituted 4-(2-aminoethyl)-1 H-pyrazol-5-ols 8 and their NH-tautomers 8' were developed. The synthetic strategy comprises a two step preparation of the N-protected alpha-enamino lactams 3a and 3b from 2-pyrrolidinone (1), "ring switching" transformation of 3a, b with monosubstituted hydrazines 4a-u, and acidolytic removal of the N-protecting group. In order to ensure a clean and fast conversion, reactions of Cbz-enaminone 3a with hydrazines 4a-k were carried out under microwave irradiation to afford the "ring-switched" intermediates 7a-k. Deprotection of 7a-k with HBr-AcOH at 50 degrees C gave a library of 11 analytically pure 4-(2-aminoethyl)-1 H-pyrazol-5-ols (di)hydrobromides 8/ 8'a-k in 16-75% yields over two steps. The other reagent, Boc-enaminone 3b, was more reactive and ring switching transformations with hydrazines 4b, d, k proceeded smoothly and cleanly under conventional heating. Finally, a parallel one-pot transformation of the Boc-enaminone 3b with hydrazines 4a-u followed by subsequent deprotection of the intermediates 9a-u with HCl-EtOAc furnished a library of 21 analytically pure 4-(2-aminoethyl)-1 H-pyrazol-5-ols (di)hydrochlorides 8/ 8'a-u in 40-100% yields.