Schiemann reactions

Fluoroarene formation from aiylamines. Also known as the Balz-Schiemann re-actiom 

Name Reactions A Collection of Detailed Mechanisms and Synthetic Applications, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-03979-4 243, Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014 

Schiemaim, G. Ber. 1927, 60,1186-1190. Gunther Schiemann was bom in Breslau, Germany in 1899. In 1925, he received his doctorate at Breslau, where he became an assistant professor. In 1950, he became the Chair of Technical Chemistry at Istanbul, where he extensively studied aromatic fluorine compounds. 

Gribble, G. W. Balz-Schiemann reaction. In Name Reactions for Functional Group Transformations, Li, J. J., Ed. Wiley Hoboken, NJ, 2007, pp 552-563. (Review). Pomerantz, M. Turkman, N. Synthesis 2008,2333-2336. 

Name Reactions, 4th ed., DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-01053-8 228, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2009 

While the direct halogenation of toluene gives a mixture of isomers that is difficult to separate into the pure isomers, the isomeric o- and p-nitrotoluenes 6a and 6b, formed by nitration, are easy to separate from each other. Thus reduction of the single o- or p-nitrotoluene 6 to the o- or p-toluidine 7a or 7b respectively, followed by conversion into the corresponding diazonium salt 8 and a subsequent Sandmeyer reaction leads to the pure o- or p-halotoluene 9. 

The preparation of an aryl flnoride—e.g. fluorobenzene 3—starting from an aryl amine—e.g. aniline 1—via an intermediate arenediazoninm tetrafluoroborate 2, is called the Schiemann reaction (also called the Balz-Schiemann reaction) The diazotization of aniline 1 in the presence of tetrafluoroborate leads to formation of a benzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate 2 that can be converted into fluorobenzene 3 by thermolysis. 

Treatment of aniline 1 with nitric acid in the presence of tetrafluoroboric acid leads to a relatively stable benzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate 2 by the usual diazotization mechanism. There are several variants for the experimental procedure. Subsequent thermal decomposition generates an aryl cation species 4, which reacts with fluoroborate anion to yield fluorobenzene 3  

In a general procedure the arenediazonium fluoroborate is isolated, and then heated without solvent. A modem variant permits the photochemical decomposition without initial isolation of the diazonium fluoroborate.  

The Schiemann reaction seems to be the best method for the selective introduction of a fluorine substituent onto an aromatic ring. The reaction works with many aromatic amines, including condensed aromatic amines. It is however of limited synthetic importance, since the yield usually decreases with additional substituents present at the aromatic ring. 

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The controlled thermal decomposition of dry aromatic diazonium fluoborates to yield an aromatic fluoride, boron trifluoride and nitrogen is known as the Schiemann reaction. Most diazonium fluoborates have definite decomposition temperatures and the rates of decomposition, with few exceptions, are easily controlled. Another procedure for preparing the diazonium fluoborate is to diazotise in the presence of the fluoborate ion. Fluoboric acid may be the only acid present, thus acting as acid and source of fluoborate ion. The insoluble fluoborate separates as it is formed side reactions, such as phenol formation and coupling, are held at a minimum temperature control is not usually critical and the temperature may rise to about 20° without ill effect efficient stirring is, however, necessary since a continuously thickening precipitate is formed as the reaction proceeds. The modified procedure is illustrated by the preparation of -fluoroanisole ... 

The mechanism of the Schiemann reaction is not known with certainty. Two schemes, which have been proposed, are given below. One involves carbonium ion formation ... 

Diazonium salt chemistry provides the principal synthetic method for the prepara tion of aryl fluorides through a process known as the Schiemann reaction In this pro cedure the aryl diazonium ion is isolated as its fluoroborate salt which then yields the desired aryl fluoride on being heated... 

Schiemann reaction (Section 22 17) Preparation of an aryl fluonde by heating the diazonium fluoroborate formed by addition of tetrafluorobonc acid (HBF4) to a diazonium ion Schiffs base (Section 17 10) Another name for an imine a compound of the type R2C=NR ... 

Trifluorobenzene. This compound is formed ia low yield (13—24%) from l,2,3-trichloroben2ene or 2,3-difluorochloroben2ene and KF/CsF ia dimethyl sulfone (204). Likewise, low yields are reali2ed when the Bal2-Schiemann reaction is appHed to 2,3-difluoroaniline or... 

Trifluorobenzene. This isomer, j -trifluoroben2ene, has been prepared ia 63% yield by the Bal2-Schiemann reaction with... 

Fluoronaphthalene [323-09-1] is prepared in 54—67% yield from 2-naphthylamine by the Balz-Schiemann reaction or in 51% yield by pyrolysis of indene and chlorofluoromethane at 600°C (77). 

Difluoronaphthalene [315-52-6] is prepared from 4-fluoro-l-naphthylarnine by the Balz-Schiemann reaction. 1,4-Difluoronaphthalene is used in chemical carcinogenesis studies as a synthon for highly condensed difluoro—polycycHc aromatic hydrocarbons (273). 

Fluorinated and iodinated derivatives are usually prepared by halogen exchange reactions, although the Baltz-Schiemann reaction has been applied to the synthesis of 2-fluoroquin-oxaline (66JHC435>. 

This reaction is commonly achieved by diazotization of the amine in fluoro-boric acid, followed by decomposition of the diazonium salt (Schiemann reaction).Thus, l-amino-4-methylestra-l,3,5(10)-trien-17-one (50) is converted to the fluoro derivative (51) in 29% yield. The synthesis of 3-fluoroestra-l,3,5(10)-triene-17-one (55) from estrone proceeds via (52) and (53)... 

New diazotization techniques for the Balz-Schiemann reaction feature alter native mtrosating agents in place of aqueous sodium nitrite or substitution of other salts such as arenediazonium hexafluorophosphates for arenediazoniuin fluoroborates... 

The Bergmann variation of the Balz Schiemann reaction is a two-step process featuring copper- or copper halide-catalyzed decomposition of aqueous or acetone solutions of arenediazonium fluoroborates containing alkyl or halogen substituents [30] A recent modification is a one-step technique featuring simultaneous diazoti-zation and decomposition by addition of aqueous sodium nitrite at 25 °C to a mixture of fluorobonc acid, copper powder, and 2 isopropyl 6 methylaniline to give 2-isopropyl-6 methylfluorobenzene in 73% yield [37]... 

The discovery of the Balz-Schiemann reaction in 1927 replaced the earlier Wallach procedure (1886) based on fluorodediazoniation of arenediazonium piper-idides (aryltriazenes) in aqueous hydrogen fluoride [40 41]... 

Preparation of aryl fluorides Addition of fluoroboric acid to a solution of a diazonium salt causes the precipitation of an aryl diazonium fluoroborate. When the dry aryl diazonium fluoroborate is heated, an aryl fluoride results. This is the Schiemann reaction it is the most general method for the preparation of aryl fluorides. 

Direct bromination readily yields the 6-bromo derivative (111), just as with uracil. Analogous chlorination and iodination requires the presence of alkalies and even then proceeds in low yield. The 6-chloro derivative (113) was also obtained by partial hydrolysis of the postulated 3,5,6-trichloro-l,2,4-triazine (e.g.. Section II,B,6). The 6-bromo derivative (5-bromo-6-azauracil) served as the starting substance for several other derivatives. It was converted to the amino derivative (114) by ammonium acetate which, by means of sodium nitrite in hydrochloric acid, yielded a mixture of 6-chloro and 6-hydroxy derivatives. A modified Schiemann reaction was not suitable for preparing the 6-fluoro derivative. The 6-hydroxy derivative (115) (an isomer of cyanuric acid and the most acidic substance of this group, pKa — 2.95) was more conveniently prepared by alkaline hydrolysis of the 6-amino derivative. Further the bromo derivative was reacted with ethanolamine to prepare the 6-(2-hydroxyethyl) derivative however, this could not be converted to the corresponding 2-chloroethyl derivative. Similarly, the dimethylamino, morpholino, and hydrazino derivatives were prepared from the 6-bromo com-pound. ... 

The Balz-Schiemann reaction continues to attract attention, with much of it generated by the interest in fluoroquinolones, e.g., (7), which is a potential antibacterial. Two approaches to its synthesis are possible—introduction of fluorine prior to or post ring construction. Decomposition of the tetrafluoroborate salt was unsuccessful, whereas the PF6 salt (8) gave only a poor yield (84JMC292). A more successful approach was the introduction of F into the pyridine nucleus prior to formation of the 1,8-naphthyridine ring (84JHC673). A comparison of decomposition media showed that cyclohexane was the best with regard to yield and time. 

Fluoro-2-pyridone was prepared by a Balz-Schiemann reaction on 4-amino-2-methoxypyridine followed by Me3Sil. BF as counterion gave a better yield than PF 6 (85JHC145). 

Photochemical modification of the Balz-Schiemann reaction has enabled fluorine-containing biologically important molecules e.g., imidaz-... 

Moderate yields of the 1- (47%) and 4- (51%) fluoro derivatives of benzo[c]cinnoline were obtained by fluorodenitration of the nitro precursors using tetrabutylammonium fluoride. The 2- and 3-fluoro isomers have been made by Schiemann reactions, though yields were only 25 and 35%, respectively (92SC545). 

The packing arrangement of cation and anion in diazonium salts has important implications not only for the structure of diazonium ions, as discussed above, but also for the solid-state chemistry of these compounds, in particular with regard to halogeno-de-diazoniations such as the Schiemann reaction. TWo of the papers of Gougoutas (1978, with Johnson, and 1979) contain, in addition to the X-ray analyses, experimental results on bromo- and iodo-de-diazoniation, which can be interpreted on the basis of the structural information (see Secs. 10.4-10.6). 

On the basis of these redox potentials it seems likely that direct electron release to the benzenediazonium ion takes place only with iodide. This corresponds well with experience in organic synthesis iodo-de-diazoniations are possible without catalysts, light, or other special procedures (Sec. 10.6). For bromo- and chloro-de-di-azoniations, catalysis by cuprous salts (Sandmeyer reaction, Sec. 10.5) is necessary. For fluorination the Balz-Schiemann reaction of arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates in the solid state (thermolysis) or in special solvents must be chosen (see Sec. 10.4). With astatide (211At-), the heaviest of the halide ions, Meyer et al. (1979) found higher yields for astato-de-diazoniation than for iodo-de-diazoniation, a result consistent with the position of At in the Periodic System. It has to be emphasized, however, that in investigations based on measuring yields of final products (Ar-Hal), the possibility that part of the yield may be due to heterolytic dediazoniation is very difficult to quantify. 

Schiemann and Winkelmuller (1943 a, 1943 b), Flood (1943), and Rutherford and Redmont (1973) provided specific examples of Balz-Schiemann reactions for Organic Syntheses. 

Milner (1992) recently described a novel and versatile modification of the Balz-Schiemann reaction. The amine is diazotized with solid nitrosonium tetrafluoro-borate in CH2C12 and, without isolation, the diazonium salt is heated and yields the fluoroarene in good yield. The method is also applicable to aniline derivatives bearing carboxy and hydroxy substituents, compounds which give poor yields in the classical procedure. 

Mechanistically there is ample evidence that the Balz-Schiemann reaction is heterolytic. This is shown by arylation trapping experiments. The added arene substrates are found to be arylated in isomer ratios which are typical for an electrophilic aromatic substitution by the aryl cation and not for a homolytic substitution by the aryl radical (Makarova et al., 1958). Swain and Rogers (1975) showed that the reaction takes place in the ion pair with the tetrafluoroborate, and not, as one might imagine, with a fluoride ion originating from the dissociation of the tetrafluoroborate into boron trifluoride and fluoride ions. This is demonstrated by the insensitivity of the ratio of products ArF/ArCl in methylene chloride solution at 25 °C to excess BF3 concentration. 

As the classical Balz-Schiemann reaction is carried out in the solid state, the structures of the arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates as determined by X-ray crystallography must be the starting point for mechanistic investigations, as pointed out by Gougoutas (1979) in the context of his work on the X-ray structures of 3-carboxy-2-naphthalenediazonium bromide and iodide (see Secs. 4.2 and 10.6). 

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