Diazo compounds, preparation reactions

Structures of type XVIII or XIX as proposed for the diazodicyanomethane complex (Table 12) may also apply to the complexes of diphenyldiazomethane and 9-diazo-fluorene. The formation of the ketenimine complex (45) from the reaction of (CN)2CN2 and Ni(t-BuNC)4 probably occurs via attack of the complexed dicyano-methylene carbene on the isocyanide ligand113 The observation that these complexes112 113 catalyze the formation of ketenimines from isocyanides and diazo compounds, a reaction which does not proceed under same conditions without the transition metal, may be of preparative value 113 ... 

The diazo compound prepared in this way from aniline hydrochloride can not be isolated, as it is soluble in water and decomposes when an attempt is made to obtain it by evaporation of the solution. In the use of diazo compounds to prepare other substances it is, in general, unnecessary to isolate them and the reactions are, accordingly, carried out in aqueous solution. When it is desired to obtain the diazo compounds in pure condition, they are prepared in a different way. In this method the salt of the amine is suspended in alcohol and treated either with amyl nitrite or with the oxides of nitrogen formed by heating arsenous acid with nitric acid. When reaction is complete, ether is added to precipitate the salt of the diazo compound, which is obtained in crystalline condition. 

Aromatic nitriles (or aryl cyanides) can be obtained by methods (1) and (3). but not by method (2). In addition, aromatic nitriles can be prepared by two other methods, (a) from the corresponding diazo compound by Sandmeyer s Reaction (p. 189), (b) by fusing the corresponding sulphonic acid (or its salts)... 

The majority of preparative methods which have been used for obtaining cyclopropane derivatives involve carbene addition to an olefmic bond, if acetylenes are used in the reaction, cyclopropenes are obtained. Heteroatom-substituted or vinyl cydopropanes come from alkenyl bromides or enol acetates (A. de Meijere, 1979 E. J. Corey, 1975 B E. Wenkert, 1970 A). The carbenes needed for cyclopropane syntheses can be obtained in situ by a-elimination of hydrogen halides with strong bases (R. Kdstcr, 1971 E.J. Corey, 1975 B), by copper catalyzed decomposition of diazo compounds (E. Wenkert, 1970 A S.D. Burke, 1979 N.J. Turro, 1966), or by reductive elimination of iodine from gem-diiodides (J. Nishimura, 1969 D. Wen-disch, 1971 J.M. Denis, 1972 H.E. Simmons, 1973 C. Girard, 1974),... 

Oxidative Couplings of Heterocyclic Hydrazones. This method has opened the way to the preparation of azo derivatives of diazo compounds unobtainable by other means, ie, heterocycHc compounds ia which the diazotizable amino group is conjugated with the heterocycHc nitrogen atom as ia 2- and 4-amiQopyridine, compounds which do not normally yield stable diazonium salts (38). The reaction occurs as illustrated by equation 7 for the iateraction of (A/-methylcarbostyryl)hydrazone [28219-37-6] and dimethyl aniline the overall process is oxidation. 

A large number of pyridazines are synthetically available from [44-2] cycloaddition reactions. In one general method, azo or diazo compounds are used as dienophiles, and a second approach is based on the reaction between 1,2,4,5-tetrazines and various unsaturated compounds. The most useful azo dienophile is a dialkyl azodicarboxylate which reacts with appropriate dienes to give reduced pyridazines and cinnolines (Scheme 89). With highly substituted dienes the normal cycloaddition reaction is prevented, and, if the ethylenic group in styrenes is substituted with aryl groups, indoles are formed preferentially. The cycloadduct with 2,3-pentadienal acetal is a tetrahydropyridazine derivative which has been used for the preparation of 2,5-diamino-2,5-dideoxyribose (80LA1307). 

There are many preparations of diazonium salts listed in Organic Syntheses, but they are always prepared for use in other reactions. We do not list them here, but under reactions in which they are used. The preparation of aliphatic diazo compounds can be found in OS III, 392 IV, 424. See also OS VI, 840. 

Carbenes from Diazo Compounds. Decomposition of diazo compounds to form carbenes is a quite general reaction that is applicable to diazomethane and other diazoalkanes, diazoalkenes, and diazo compounds with aryl and acyl substituents. The main restrictions on this method are the limitations on synthesis and limited stability of the diazo compounds. The smaller diazoalkanes are toxic and potentially explosive, and they are usually prepared immediately before use. The most general synthetic routes involve base-catalyzed decomposition of V-nitroso derivatives of amides, ureas, or sulfonamides, as illustrated by several reactions used for the preparation of diazomethane. 

These authors also prepared novel epoxy-bridged cyclooxaalkanones in this process, the carbonyl group always acts as 1,3-dipolarophile, even if one employs ct,(3-unsaturated aldehydes. Thus, reaction of 6/2-16 with aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes 6/2-17 in the presence of catalytic amounts of rhodium acetate gave 6/2-18, regioselectively. With the a, 3-unsaturated aldehydes 6/2-20, only cycloadducts 6/2-21 were obtained using the diazo compound 6/2-19 as substrate (Scheme 6/2.3) [191]. 

Aziridines have been synthesized, albeit in low yield, by copper-catalyzed decomposition of ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of an inline 260). It seems that such a carbenoid cyclopropanation reaction has not been realized with other diazo compounds. The recently described preparation of 1,2,3-trisubstituted aziridines by reaction of phenyldiazomethane with N-alkyl aldimines or ketimines in the presence of zinc iodide 261 > most certainly does not proceed through carbenoid intermediates rather, the metal salt serves to activate the imine to nucleophilic attack from the diazo carbon. Replacement of Znl2 by one of the traditional copper catalysts resulted in formation of imidazoline derivatives via an intermediate azomethine ylide261). 

In 1966, Nozaki et al. reported that the decomposition of o-diazo-esters by a copper chiral Schiff base complex in the presence of olefins gave optically active cyclopropanes (Scheme 58).220 221 Following this seminal discovery, Aratani et al. commenced an extensive study of the chiral salicylaldimine ligand and developed highly enantioselective and industrially useful cyclopropanation.222-224 Since then, various complexes have been prepared and applied to asymmetric cyclo-propanation. In this section, however, only selected examples of cyclopropanations using diazo compounds are discussed. For a more detailed discussion of asymmetric cyclopropanation and related reactions, see reviews and books.17-21,225... 

The rhodium(II)-catalyzed reaction of propargyl compounds 169 and diazo compounds 170 gave corresponding functionalized allenes 171 together with cydopro-penes 172 (Scheme 3.87) [126]. Rh2(pfb)4, where pfb represents perfluorobutyrate, was found to be an excellent catalyst for preparing the allenes 171. An analogous rhodium(II) complex, Rh2(OAc)4, afforded mainly 172 with only a trace amount of 171 (<5%). 

Principally the same, but chemically simpler, sequence was used to prepare arylnitro anion-radicals from arylamines, in high yields. For instance, aqueous sodium nitrite solution was added to a mixture of ascorbic acid and sodium 3,5-dibromo-4-aminobenzenesulfonate in water. After addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, the cation-radical of sodium 3,5-dibromo-4-nitro-benzenesulfonate was formed in the solution. The latter was completely characterized by its ESR spectrum. Double functions of the nitrite and ascorbic acid in the reaction should be underlined. Nitrite takes part in diazotization of the starting amine and trapping of the phenyl a-radical formed after one-electron reduction of the intermediary diazo compound. Ascorbic acid produces acidity to the reaction solution (needed for diazotization) and plays the role of a reductant when the medium becomes alkaline. The method described was proposed for ESR analytical determination of nitrite ions in water solutions (Lagercrantz 1998). 

The best large-scale preparation of cyclobutanone is the reaction of diazomethane with ketene.2 It requires a ketene generator and implies handling of large quantities of the potentially hazardous diazo compound. A more frequently used method for the preparation of cyclobutanone starts from pentaerythritol, the final step being the oxidative degradation of methylenecyclobutane,3,4 which can also be prepared from other precursors.5 A general survey of all methods used to obtain cyclobutanone has been published.6,7... 

In search of a convenient procedure for preparing diazo substrates for the cycloaddition to Cgg, Wudl introduced the base-induced decomposition of tosyl-hydrazones [116]. This procedure allows the in situ generation of the diazo compoimd without the requirement of its purification prior to addition to Cgg. Since they are rapidly trapped by the fullerene, even unstable diazo compounds can be successfully used in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. In a one-pot reaction the tosyUiydrazone is converted into its anion with bases such as sodium methoxide or butylHfhium, which after decomposition readily adds to Cgg (at about 70 °C). This method was first proven to be successful with substrate 142. Some more reactions that indicate the versatility of this procedure are shown in Table 4.4. Reaction of 142 with CgQ under the previously described conditions and subsequent deprotection of the tert-butyl ester leads to [6,6]-phenyl-C5j-butyric acid (PCBA) that can easily be functionalized by esterification or amide-formation [116]. PCBA was used to obtain the already described binaphthyl-dimer (obtained from 149 by twofold addition) in a DCC-coupling reaction [122]. 

A -Unsubstituted 1,2,4-diazaphospholes (4) undergo A -alkylation by reaction with alkyl vinyl ether, sulfur ylides, and diazo compounds <95HAC403>. They react with acyl chlorides in a 2 1 molar ratio to give a mixture of the A -acylated diazaphosphole and the diazaphosphole hydrochloride. Preparative A -acyclation is achieved in presence of a tertiary amine. Sulfonyl chlorides and phosphorus trichloride also give A -substitution reactions (Scheme 2) <87TH 422-01 >. 

The preparation of thiiranes is most conveniently performed in solution. However, there are also protocols reported for reaction in the gas and solid phase. By using diazo and thiocarbonyl compounds in ether as solvent, both alkyl and aryl substituted thiiranes are accessible. As indicated earlier, aryl substituents destabilize the initially formed 2,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazole ring and, in general, thiiranes are readily obtained at low temperature (13,15,35). On the other hand, alkyl substituents, especially bulky ones, enhance the stability of the initial cycloadduct, and the formation of thiiranes requires elevated temperatures (36 1,88). Some examples of sterically crowded thiiranes prepared from thioketones and a macro-cyclic diazo compound have been published by Atzmiiller and Vbgtle (106). Diphenyldiazomethane reacts with (arylsulfonyl)isothiocyanates and this is followed by spontaneous N2 elimination to give thiirane-2-imines (60) (107,108). Under similar conditions, acyl-substituted isothiocyanates afforded 2 1-adducts 61 (109) (Scheme 5.23). It seems likely that the formation of 61 involves a thiirane intermediate analogous to 60, which subsequently reacts with a second equivalent... 

Due to space limitations, it is not possible to provide a comprehensive coverage of all 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition chemistry carried out using diazo compounds over the past two decades. Rather, attention will be given to the most significant developments, including the synthesis of novel heterocyclic systems, the preparation of well-established heterocycles (such as pyrazoles and pyrazolines) with novel functionalities, as well as stereoselective cycloadditions. A discussion of the theoretical, mechanistic, and kinetic aspects of these 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions will be kept to a minimum, but references to important work in these areas will be given at appropriate places. Authoritative reviews dealing with the... 

Numerous methods to prepare individual classes of aliphatic diazo compounds have been extensively developed. The major strategies for their synthesis involve the alkaline cleavage of N-alkyl-N-nitroso-ureas, -carboxamides and -sulfonamides, dehydrogenation of hydrazones, as well as diazo group transfer from sulfonyl and related azides to active methylene compounds, and electrophilic diazoalkane substitution reactions. These synthetic methods have been comprehensively reviewed (15,16). Useful information on the preparation of selected diazo compounds can be found elsewhere (6,17). 

An interesting preparation of aliphatic diazoalkanes (R R C = N2 R, R = alkyl) involves the photolysis of 2-alkoxy-2,5-dihydro-1,3.4-oxadiazoles (see Scheme 8.49). When the photolysis is carried out in the presence of an appropriate dipolarophUe, the diazo compounds can be intercepted (prior to their further photolysis) by a [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction (54). As an example, 2-diazopropane was intercepted with A-phenylmaleimide (54) and norbornenes (55) to give the corresponding A -pyrazolines. 

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