(Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitriles as chiral dipolarophiles: reactions with diazoalkanes.

[reaction: see text] The dipolarophilic reactivity of enantiopure (Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitriles (1) has been evaluated with diazoalkanes. 3-Cyanopyrazoles are obtained when R = H, but with R = alkyl (Bn, n-Bu, and t-Bu) only one cycloadduct (4 or 5) is formed in high yield under mild conditions, therefore evidencing a complete control of the regioselectivity and the endo/exo and pi-facial selectivities. These reactions are a new straightforward entry to the synthesis of pyrazolines and related structures and reveal the excellent dipolarophilic features of (Z)-sulfinylacrylonitriles.