Substituted 2,3,5,6,7,8-hexahydropyrazolo[4,3-d][1,2]diazepine-8-carboxylates were prepared in good to excellent yields from ethyl (2E)-3-(dimethylamino)-2-(4Z)-4-[(dimethylamino)methylidene]-5-oxo-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-yl}propenoate with 1,2-disubstituted hydrazines by heating in an alcohol. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.