Regioselective synthesis of 1-alkyl- or 1-aryl-1H-indazoles via copper-catalyzed cyclizations of 2-haloarylcarbonylic compounds.

[reaction: see text] A general method for the one-step regioselective synthesis of 1-alkyl- or 1-aryl-1H-indazoles from ortho-halogenated alkanoylphenones, benzophenones, and arylcarboxylic acids, via copper-catalyzed amination, was developed by using 0.2% mol of CuO in the presence of K(2)CO(3). The reaction involves amination followed by intramolecular dehydration. Different functionalized alkyl aryl ketones, diaryl ketones, and benzoic acid derivatives were efficiently coupled with several hydrazines. Ligands commonly employed as catalysts for intermolecular amination were shown to be ineffective for this cyclization.