Cycloaddition of Trifluoroacetaldehyde N-Triftosylhydrazone (TFHZ-Tfs) with Alkynes for Synthesizing 3-Trifluoromethylpyrazoles.

A transition-metal-free [3 + 2] cycloaddition between trifluoroacetaldehyde N-triftosylhydrazone (TFHZ-Tfs) and alkynes is reported. This protocol provides an operationally simple and general method for the synthesis of diverse 3-trifluoromethylpyrazoles in good to excellent yields with broad substrate scope, including aryl, heteroaryl, and alkyl terminal alkynes, and electron-deficient internal alkynes. The synthetic potential of this method was further demonstrated by the synthesis of an antiarthritic drug Celecoxib in multigram scale.