Microwave irradiation in solvent-free conditions induces pyrazolyl 2-a
zadienes to undergo Diels-Alder cycloadditions with nitroalkenes withi
n 5-10. min to give good yields of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines. This is t
he first example of a [4 + 2] cycloaddition of a 2-azadiene involving
a pyrazole ring. By classical heating, these reactions do not occur or
afford only traces of the products.