Phosphine-Catalyzed Cascade Annulation of MBH Carbonates and Diazenes: Synthesis of Hexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole Derivatives

A phosphine-catalyzed cascade annulation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates and diazenes was achieved, giving tetrahydropyrazole-fused heterocycles bearing two five-membered rings in moderate to excellent yields. The reaction underwent an unprecedented reaction mode of MBH carbonates, in which two molecules of MBH carbonates were fully merged into the ring system.