Palladium-catalyzed C-H activation/intramolecular amination reaction: A new route to 3-aryl/alkylindazoles

A method for the catalytic C-H activation of hydrazone compounds followed by intramolecular amination is described. It requires the use of a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)(2) in the presence of Cu(OAc)(2) and AgOCOCF3, which efficiently effects the cyclization to afford variously substituted indazoles. The reactions proceed under relatively mild conditions and thus tolerate a variety of functional groups, including alkoxycarbonyl and cyano groups and halogen atoms.