Diazonium formation from arylamines

The formation of a diazonium group from the arylamine derivative can be done by treatment with sodium nitrite in HC1 (see Protocol in Chapter 9, Section 6). 

Aryldiazonium salts, usually obtained from arylamines, undergo replacement of the diazonium group with a variety of nucleophiles to provide advantageous methods for producing aryl halides, cyanides, phenols and arenes by reductive removal of the diazo group. Coupling reaction of aryldiazonium salts with phenols or arylamines give rise to the formation of azo dyes. 

Primary arylamines like primary alkylammes form diazonium ion salts on nitro sation Aryl diazonium 10ns are considerably more stable than their alkyl counterparts Whereas alkyl diazonium 10ns decompose under the conditions of their formation aryl diazonium salts are stable enough to be stored m aqueous solution at 0-5°C for a rea sonable time Loss of nitrogen from an aryl diazonium ion generates an unstable aryl cation and is much slower than loss of nitrogen from an alkyl diazonium ion... 

Salts of primary aromatic amines react with nitrous acid to produce diazonium salts. The reaction is usually performed by adding a cold solution of sodium nitrite to a cold solution of the arylamine in aqueous mineral acid. The end point of the reaction is conveniently determined by the detection of excess nitrous acid with potassium iodide-starch paper. Sulfamic acid has long been used both in industry and in the laboratory to remove excess nitrous acid. It has been found to react with the more active diazo compounds. In most cases, high temperatures are avoided to prevent the formation of phenols and the decomposition of the unstable nitrous acid. An excess of mineral acid is necessary to prevent coupling between the diazonium salt and unreacted amine (cf. method 494). If the amine salt is somewhat insoluble, a fine crystalline form, which is produced by rapid crystallization from a warm aqueous solution, may be employed. ... 

Arylamines from triazenes. Arylamines can be protected as triazenes (formation by reaction of the diazonium salts with a secondary amine). Regeneration of ArNH2 is accomplished by reductive cleavage using Al-Ni alloy in a basic solution. 

---