5-(3-Amino-2-hydroxy-phenyl)-furan-2-carboxylic acid hydrobromide 4g (300 mg, 1.0 mmol) was dissolved in hydrochloric acid (3.4 mL, 1 M) followed by dropwise addition of 1.2 mL of sodium nitrite solution (73 mg, 1.05 mmol) upon cooling by an ice-water bath. After the mixture was reacted for 10 minutes, 2-indan-5-yl-5-methyl-2,4-dihydro-pyrazol-3-one 1i (193 mg, 0.9 mmol), sodium bicarbonate (1.26 g, 15 mmol) and 4.4 mL of ethanol were added successively. The mixture was reacted at room temperature for 24 hours. The mixture was filtered and the filter cake was washed with 20 mL of water and then dissolved in 20 mL of water. Upon cooling by an ice-water bath, the mixture was adjusted to pH<5 with concentrated hydrochloric acid, filtered and dried to obtain the title compound (Z)-5-{2-hydroxy-3-[N′-(1-indan-5-yl-3-methyl-5-oxo-1,5-dihydro-pyrazol-4-ylidene)-hydrazino]-phenyl}-furan-2-carboxylic acid 16a (287 mg, yield 71.8%) as a yellow solid.
