Aqueous N-methylmorpholine N-oxide as a new medium for alkylation of pyrazoles.

It is shown that alkylation of pyrazoles with (E)/(Z)-1,3-dichlorobut-2-enes can be carried out in an alkaline aqueous medium in the presence of N-methylmorpholine N-oxide. In some cases, this technique may substitute phase-transfer catalysis. Conformational analysis of the reaction products showed that a mixture of (E)/(Z) isomers is formed in a ratio of 9:1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]