Methyl-2-azidobenzoate, photolysis

An intensely colored by-product of the photolysis reaction of methyl-2-azidobenzoate has been identified as the first known derivative of 3,3 -diazaheptafulvalene 70 (94LA1165). Its molecular mass was established by elemental analysis and mass spectroscopy as that of a formal nitrene dimer, whereas and NMR studies demonstrated the twofold symmetry as well as the existence of a cross-conjugated 14 7r-electron system in 70. Involving l-azido-2,3-dimethoxy-5,6-dimethoxycarbonylbenzene in thermal decomposition reactions, the azaheptafulvalene 71 could be isolated and characterized spectroscopically and by means of X-ray diffraction. Tliis unusual fulvalene can be regarded as a vinylogous derivative of azafulvalenes (96JHC1333) (Scheme 28). 

Photolysis of methyl 4-azidobenzoate in a 1 % solution of diethylamine in methanol affords only /V,iV-dicthyl-3//-azepin-2-amine (50% yield), a result which emphasizes the superior nucleophilic character of diethylamine in these reactions.199... 

Attempts to effect ring expansion of methyl 2-azidobenzoate in the presence of other nucleophiles have failed. Thus, photolysis in tetrahydrofuran solution saturated with hydrogen sulfide, or with ammonia, produced methyl 2-aminobenzoate in 54 and 37 % yield, respectively, as the sole identifiable product.197 Photolysis of phenyl azide in ethanolic phenol gave 2-phenoxy-3//-azepine in poor yield (8 %).203,204 2-Mesityl-3//-azepine (10 %) is the surprising, and only tentatively explained, product from the photolysis of phenyl azide in mcsitylene in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid.179... 

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