The first example of rare earth metal-catalyzed
[3 + 2] cycloaddition
of organic azides with nitroolefins and subsequent elimination reaction
is described. In the presence of a catalytic amount of Ce(OTf)3, both benzyl and phenyl azides react with a broad range of
aryl nitroolefins containing a range of functionalities selectively
producing 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles in good to excellent yields.