Zirconium-catalyzed enantioselective [3+2] cycloaddition of hydrazones to olefins leading to optically active pyrazolidine, pyrazoline, and 1,3-diamine derivatives.

Asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of hydrazones to external olefins has been successfully conducted in high yields with high enantioselectivities using a chiral zirconium catalyst. These reactions open ways to synthetically and biologically important pyrazoline, pyrazolidine, and 1,3-diamine derivatives. Further, several experiments suggested that the reactions proceeded via concerted pathways.