Two-step synthesis of β-alkyl chalcones and their use in the synthesis of 3,5-diaryl-5-alkyl-4,5-dihydropyrazoles

We report a simple and efficient two-step synthesis of variously substituted β-alkyl chalcones (7) from the corresponding Weinreb amide and a terminal alkyne, and that these chalcones are useful intermediates for the synthesis of medicinally interesting 3,5-diaryl-5-alkyl-4,5-dihydropyrazoles (6). The current methodology allows for the incorporation of many substitution patterns not available from the few previously reported approaches to compounds in this class.