Microwave-assisted synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-spirocycloalkanediones by three-component reaction of 5-aminopyrazole derivatives, paraformaldehyde and cyclic β-diketones

New pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-spirocycloalkanedione derivatives were prepared via three-component reaction between 5-(4-R-benzylamino)pyrazoles, cyclic β-diketones and paraformaldehyde. The use of indandione as β-diketone resulted in the formation of two products, the pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-spiroindanediones and 3-tert-butyl-1-phenylindeno[2,3-e]pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine. The structures of the pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-spirocycloalkanedione were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This protocol provides a simple one-step synthetic methodology with the advantages of easy work-up, mild reaction conditions and environmentally benign.