Intermolecular cycloaddition of tosylhydrazones with nitriles was investigated. t-BuOK was shown to be an excellent base for increasing the effectiveness of the reaction
in this protocol, and homocoupling of the tosylhydrazones was significantly inhibited
by using xylene as a solvent. Through this transformation, a variety of 4,5-diaryl-2H-1,2,3-triazoles were prepared in good to excellent yields and with high purities.
The process is azide-free and transition-metal-free.
Key words
triazoles - tosylhydrazones - cycloaddition - potassium butoxide