Preparation of Diazonium Compounds

Sodium nitrite is an important reagent in the preparation of diazonium compounds, e.g. reaction 14.106 in which HNO2 is prepared in. situ. Alkali metal nitrates yield the nitrites when heated alone or, better, with Pb (reaction 14.107). 

Nitrous acid is used in the well-known preparation of diazonium compounds in organic chemistry. Numerous organic derivatives of the N02 group are known. They are of two types nitrites, R—ONO, and nitro compounds, R—N02. Similar tautomerism occurs in inorganic complexes, in which either oxygen or nitrogen is the actual donor atom when NOj is a ligand. 

---