3-Acylpyridine N-oxide tosylhydrazones give good overall yields of a mixture of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines and pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridines when treated with an electrophilic additive and an amine base. (Z)-Hydrazones cyclize readily, while (E)-hydrazones fail to react under the reported conditions. The reaction takes place at room temperature, and moderate regiocontrol over the cyclization can be achieved by varying the electrophile/solvent combination.

Reaction conditions for the cyclization of (Z)‐hydrazones (I) are optimized.