Diazo coupling reactions

Only 2-aminothiazole derivatives are reactive enough toward diazonium salts to undergo the diazo-coupling reaction. The azo group fixes exclusively on the 5-position when it is free (Scheme 62) (351). 

Diazo Coupling Reactions. Alkylphenols undergo a coupling reaction with dia2onium salts which is the basis for the preparation of a class of uv light stabilizers for polymers. The interaction of orxv i -nitrobenzenediazonium chloride with 2,4-di-/ r2 -butylphenol results in an azo-coupled product (30). Reduction of the nitro group followed by m situ cyclization affords the benzottiazole (31) (19). 

The diazotization of amino derivatives of six-membered heteroaromatic ring systems, particularly that of aminopyridines and aminopyridine oxides, was studied in detail by Kalatzis and coworkers. Diazotization of 3-aminopyridine and its derivatives is similar to that of aromatic amines because of the formation of rather stable diazonium ions. 2- and 4-aminopyridines were considered to resist diazotization or to form mainly the corresponding hydroxy compounds. However, Kalatzis (1967 a) showed that true diazotization of these compounds proceeds in a similar way to that of the aromatic amines in 0,5-4.0 m hydrochloric, sulfuric, or perchloric acid, by mixing the solutions with aqueous sodium nitrite at 0 °C. However, the rapidly formed diazonium ion is hydrolyzed very easily within a few minutes (hydroxy-de-diazonia-tion). The diazonium ion must be used immediately after formation, e. g., for a diazo coupling reaction, or must be stabilized as the diazoate by prompt neutralization (after 45 s) to pH 10-11 with sodium hydroxide-borax buffer. All isomeric aminopyridine-1-oxides can be diazotized in the usual way (Kalatzis and Mastrokalos, 1977). The diazotization of 5-aminopyrimidines results in a complex ring opening and conversion into other heterocyclic systems (see Nemeryuk et al., 1985). 

Fig. 7-2. Potential energy E as a function of the reaction coordinate for reactions of the P-nitrogen of arenediazonium ions with nucleophiles yielding (Z)- and (is)-azo compounds, a) Reactant-like transition states (e. g., reaction with OH) b) product-like transition states (e. g., diazo coupling reaction with phenoxide ions product = cyclohexadienone-type o-complex (see Sec. 12.8).

In another investigation (Loewenschuss et al., 1976) dediazoniation was studied in TFE and in acetonitrile in the presence of pyridine. There is UV and NMR evidence for the formation of a diazopyridinium cation in addition, -CIDNP absorption and emission signals were observed. Systems containing diazonium salts and pyridine are important in industrial chemistry, as pyridine is used as a proton acceptor in the diazo coupling reaction (see Sec. 12.8) in a considerable number of syntheses of azo dyes. At the same time pyridine has an unfavorable effect on the yield because of the competing homolytic dediazoniation. 

I dedicate this book to Paul D. Bartlett, one of the grand pioneers of physical organic chemistry, who investigated perceptively several basic problems in organic chemistry at a time when the chemical community did not yet see their crucial aspects, for example, in the mechanism of the diazo coupling reaction (Wistar and Bartlett, 1941). I learned much from him when he invited me to attend his Friday seminars at Harvard University in 1951-1952. 

The high reactivity of diazonium salts enables them to enter into a great many reactions other than the azo coupling reaction, but these fall outside the scope of the present chapter. Various other methods can be used for the preparation of azo compounds, although these are of minor importance compared with the diazo coupling reaction and they will only be touched on briefly where appropriate. 

Because of the small concentration of the 2 1 complex the last term can be ignored. From the extreme rate values in the absence of zinc and with an excess of zinc, 2i and 22 are determined as 2.4 X 104 min.-1 and 1.57 min.-1 respectively. These values can be combined with the trend in the rate constants to give the stability constant of the reactive complex, presumably Zn(OR)(OAc), as 3 X 107. For the simple zinc complex in water the literature values of the stability constant for the 1 1 complex vary from 2.5 X 108 to 6.3 X 108. The diazo coupling reaction of the complex indicates the smaller effect of coordination vis a vis protonation since this reaction is very sensitive to such effects and does not proceed with phenols. Unfortunately the choice of cations for such a reaction is restricted since the cation should not interfere with the analytical methods used to obtain the kinetic data nor should it introduce additional reactions such as occur with transition metal cations which can catalyze the decomposition of the diazonium salt via a redox process. 

Substituents on fused benzene rings undergo the usual reactions expected in the benzene series. The orientation in the diazo coupling reactions with hydroxy compounds (300) and (301) indicates that there is little bond fixation in dibenzofuran, a distinct contrast to naphthalene. 

Azo or diazene compounds possess the —N=N— grouping. Aliphatic azo compounds of the type R—N=N—H appear to be highly unstable and decompose to R—H and nitrogen. Derivatives of the type R—N=N—R are much more stable and can be prepared as mentioned above by oxidation of the corresponding hydrazines. Aromatic azo compounds are available in considerable profusion from diazo coupling reactions (Section 23-IOC) and are of commercial importance as dyes and coloring materials. 

Arenols usually will undergo diazo coupling reactions with aryldi-azonium salts at pH values high enough to convert some of the arenol to the more powerfully nucleophilic arenolate anions ... 

Give examples using arenediazonium salts in diazo coupling reactions and in the synthesis of phenols and aryl chlorides, bromides, iodides, fluorides, and nitriles. 

Use diazonium salts in reactions involving arylamines, including diazo coupling reactions. 

Diazonium ions are Lewis acids in which the P-nitrogen atom is the centre of electrophilic character. The addition of nucleophiles at the P-nitrogen is called an azo (or diazo) coupling reaction and depending on the atom which provides the lone pair of electrons, C-, N-, 0-, P- or S-coupling can occur. 

Diazo ketones also possess an electrophilic diazo group, and hence are susceptible to diazo-coupling reactions with suitable soft nucleophiles. Examples are given in equations (11) and (12). Phospha-zines such as (19) are useful synthetic intermediates in their own right. The carbon terminus of the 1,3-dipole possesses nucleophilic properties and can participate in aldol-type reactions with the particularly electrophilic carbonyl groups in 1,2-di- and 1,2,3-tri-carbonyl compounds. Intramolecular condensations occur with greater ease (equation 13). Reaction of diazo ketones of the type summarized in equations (9)-(12) have been thoroughly reviewed. ... 

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