Formal [4 + 1] cycloaddition of in situ generated 1,2-diaza-1,3-dienes with diazo esters: facile approaches to dihydropyrazoles containing a quaternary center.

A Cu(ii)/bisoxazoline ligand-promoted formal [4 + 1] cycloaddition of diazo esters with azoalkenes formed in situ has been developed. This strategy provides a potential protocol for the construction of dihydropyrazoles containing a quaternary center with good to excellent yields.