Synthesis and characterization of 1,3,5-triarylpyrazol-4-ols and 3,5-diarylisoxazol-4-ols from chalcones and theoretical studies of the stability of pyrazol-4-ol toward acid dehydration

The synthesis of diverse pyrazol-4-ol and isoxazole-4-ol heterocycles involving only 3 reaction steps is reported in this study. However, the synthesis of carboxamide pyrazol-4-ol has failed in the conditions used in the synthesis, acid methanol solution. The carboxamide pyrazol-4-ol decomposes via dehydration, forming the respective pyrazol. Theoretical calculations were used to elucidate the dehydration reaction. We have found a mechanism for acid-catalyzed dehydration that can explain the experimental observations. The calculated free energy profile for acid-catalyzed dehydration of the carboxamide pyrazol-4-ol and phenylpyrazole-4-ol point out that the latter is more stable in relation dehydration, with a dehydration rate 100 times smaller in acid methanol solution. •The carboxamide pyrazol-4-ol decomposes via dehydration.•Theoretical calculations were performed to explain the acid-catalyzed dehydration.•Phenyl pyrazole-4-ol is more stable than carboxamide pyrazol-4-ol.