Organocatalyzed asymmetric tandem Michael-cyclization reaction of 4-benzylidene-3-methylpyrazol-5-ones and malononitrile: stereocontrolled construction of pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole scaffold

An efficient approach for the stereocontrolled construction of pyrano[2,3-c] pyrazole scaffold has been developed. Under the catalysis of a bifunctional squaramide derived from (1R, 2R)-1,2-diphenylethane-1,2-diamine, the asymmetric tandem Michael addition/cyclization reaction of 4-benzylidenepyrazol-5(4H)-ones and malononitrile proceeded efficiently to furnish the desired pyrano[2,3-c] pyrazoles in satisfactory yields with high levels of enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee).