Hydrazobenzene, decomposition

The spontaneous decomposition of hydrazobenzene, like that of hydrogen peroxide, is catalyticaUy accelerated by metallic platinum. 

As in the case of hydrazobenzene, the decomposition is catalytically accelerated by finely divided platinum. 

The second mechanism worthy of consideration involves initial abstraction of one hydrogen by triplet nitrene to form an anilino radical which may subsequently either dimerize or abstract another hydrogen. This is illustrated for the thermal decomposition of p-anisyl azide in cumene. Indirect support for the hydrazo intermediate 37 comes from the observation that thermolysis of phenyl azide in decalin affords hydrazobenzene and benzidine as well as azobenzene and aniline. Anilino radical intermediates also are implicated in the oxidation... 

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