We have previously investigated the reactivity of pyrazoles I-III in addition reactions to the carboncarbon double bond conjugated with electronwithdrawing groups [1,2]. In order to verify the possibility of attaching azoles to conjugated systems under mild conditions, we performed reactions of pyrazoles I-III with maleic acid; in the latter molecule the double bond is not polarized due to a mismatched action of two electron-withdrawing groups [3].The experiments showed that pyrazoles I-III react with maleic acid similarly to the cases of acrylic acid [4] and methyl vinyl ketone [1]: when heated in bulk in the absence of any catalyst, they yielded the corresponding (pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acids IV-VI (Scheme 1).Yields of aza-Michael adducts IV-VI depended strongly on the azoles basicity. When maleic acid reacted with 3,5-dimethylpyrazole III (pK b = 4.38), yield of compound VI was of 96%, whereas in the case of less basic pyrazole I (pK b = 2.53) the reaction proceeded with yield of 65%. In the case of 3(5)methylpyrazole II (pK b = 3.55), the desired product was obtained in yield of 80% as a mixture of two isomers Va and Vb in the ratio of 9 : 1. Isomer 5a was isolated via fractional crystallization from water.
2-(1H-Pyrazol-1-yl)butanedioic acid (IV).A mixture of 1.5 g (0.022 mol) of pyrazole I and 3.0 g (0.024 mol) of maleic acid was heated to 110°C. The reaction temperature spontaneously went up to 130°C. Heating was continued at 110°C for 2.5 h. The resulting mixture was recrystallized from water. Yield 2.6 g (65%), mp 170°C. IR spectrum, ν, cm -1 : 1520 (ring), 1570 (COOH). 1 H NMR spectrum, δ, ppm (J, Hz): 2.99 d.d (1H, CH 2 , J 17.0, 7.6), 3.14 d.d (1H, CH 2 , J 17.0, 6.2), 5.27 d.d (1H, CH, J 7.6, 6.2), 6.18 d.d (1H, =CH, J 2.3, 1.8), 7.37 d.d (1H, =CH, J 1.8, 0.8), 7.65 d.d (1H, =CH, J 2.3, 0.8), 12.20 br.s (2H, COOH). Found, %: C 45.85; H 4.75; N 15.56. C 7 H 8 N 2 O 4 . Calculated, %: C 45.66; H 4.38; N 15.21.R 1 = R 2 = H (I, IV); R 1 = CH 3 , R 2 = H (IIа, Vа); R 1 = H, R 2 = CH 3 (IIb, Vb); R 1 = R 2 = CH 3 (III, VI).