Recent advances in synthesis of aminopyrazole carbonitriles and applications

Abstract

Heterocyclic nitrogen-based compounds, particularly aminopyrazole carbonitriles, have gained significant research interest due to their diverse applications in pharmaceuticals, electronics, and other fields. The synthesis is facilitated by the availability of reagents through one-pot and two-pot approaches. The one-pot synthesis follows a three-component reaction in a single step, yielding the desired product efficiently with high atom economy and significantly reduced reaction times. In contrast, the two-pot synthesis involves formation of intermediate arylidenemalononitrile via Knoevenagel condensation, which is subsequently treated with hydrazine derivatives to generate pyrazole derivatives. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the recent synthesis advances (2013–2026) in the synthesis of aminopyrazole carbonitriles focusing on one-pot multicomponent reactions and sequential two-pot strategies under mild catalytic or non-catalytic conditions, including solvent and solvent-free systems. We evaluate a range of synthetic media from solvent-free to aqueous media exploiting the salting-out effect. The scope of applications is extensively discussed, from documented anti-HIV, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities to industrial roles in crop protection and steel corrosion inhibition. The review highlights the trend towards sustainable high-yield protocols and identifies challenges remaining in the field.