Keywords: α-diazo ketones, 2,3-diaryl-6, 5,6,5,6,7-tetrahydroindazoles have been prepared by oxidation of the corresponding 6,6-dimethyl-4-oxo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindazoles using H 2 SeO 3 [1] and have found a variety of uses in the modification of indazoles and pyrazoles [2][3][4][5][6][7]. On this basis pyrazole mono-and dicarboxylic acids have been prepared by subsequent oxidation of the α-diketone with hydrogen peroxide [1, 4, 5], a benzyl rearrangement [8], or cleavage of a tosylate monoxime [9]. The α-diketone group has been used in the synthesis of polycondensed pyrazolo[4,3-a]phenazine [2, 6, 7] and indazolo[4,5-d]imidazole [6] heterocyclic systems.