Schiemann reaction decomposition

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 ... 

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)... 

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 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. 

The thermal decomposition of arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates is slowed down when the salt is complexed by 18-crown-6 (Bartsch et al., 1976). The kinetic data obtained for the 4-t-butylbenzenediazonium salt at 50°C in 1,2-dichloroethane revealed that the rate of complexed to uncomplexed salt is more than 100. Other crown ethers such as dibenzo-18-crown-6 and dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 exhibited the same effect but smaller molecules such as 15-crown-5 did not influence the rate at all. It is not only the rate of the Schiemann reaction that is affected by the crown ether nucleophilic aromatic substitutions by halide ions (Cl-, Br-) at the 4-positions in arenediazonium salts are retarded or even entirely inhibited when 18-crown-6 is added. This is attributed to the attenuation of the positive charge at the diazonio group in the complex (Gokel et al., 1977). 

The Balz-Schiemann and Wallach reactions The Balz-Schiemann reaction (the thermal decomposition of an aryl diazonium salt. Scheme 46) was for many years the only practical method for the introduction of a fluorine atom into an aromatic ring not bearing electron-withdrawing substituents. This reaction, first reported in the late 1800s, was studied in fluorine-18 chemistry as early as 1967 [214]. It involves the generation of an aryl cation by thermal decomposition, which then reacts with solvent, nucleophiles or other species present to produce a substituted aromatic compound. Use of fluorine-18-labelled... 

The Wallach reaction, the thermal decomposition of an aryl triazene (Scheme 46), has also been attempted as an alternative to the Balz-Schiemann reaction [54,220,221]. Although a wide variety of experimental conditions have been tried, the radiochemical yields remain low. 

The second product in this reaction, the difluorotris(perfluoroalkyl)-A5-phosphane, does not dissolve in aryl fluorides and, because of its greater density, forms a lower layer which can be easily separated. In this way the difluoro-A5-phosphanes are regenerated almost quantitatively and can be used in the synthesis many times. An example is the decomposition of 4-nitrobenzene-diazonium trifluorotris(heptafluoropropyl)phosphate at 87 C which provides l-fluoro-4-ni-trobenzene in 82% yield and difluorotris(heptafluoropropyl)-A5-phosphane in quantitative yield.6 This method is a convenient modification of the Balz-Schiemann reaction (see Section 26.1.3.). 

Due to the corrosive and toxic nature of volatile hydrogen fluoride, the fluorodediazoniation of aromatic and heteroaromatic amines in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (see Section 26.1.2.), though very efficient, inexpensive and easy to scale up, needs special apparatus and safety measures which are not always available in every laboratory. Thus, the Balz-Schiemann reaction remains the most popular way to substitute aromatic amino groups for fluorine on a laboratory scale. Moreover, special techniques have been developed during the last decade to control formation, storage and decomposition of arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates on a large scale. 

The Balz-Schiemann reaction, thermal decomposition of arenediazonium fluoroborates, is still a favorite approach to the laboratory preparation of fluoro aromatics [16, 17 Caution must be exercised in handling and decomposing mtroarenediazomum fluoroborates and pyridinediazomum fluoroborates because detonations have been reported [J8, 19]... 

The controlled thermal decomposition of dry aryldiazonium fluoroborates to yield an aryl fluoride, boron trifluoride and nitrogen is known as the Balz-Schiemann reaction (Expt 6.77). 

Diazotization procedures. Widely used for the production of aromatic fluorine is the Balz-Schiemann reaction. The approach involves diazotization of the aniline and isolation of the insoluble tetrafluoroborate salt, followed by decomposition under heating conditions (Fig. 32). Initially introduced in 1927 [137,138], it did not achieve commercial utility until the mid-1980s. A modification of the Balz-Schie-mann reaction involves replacing the tetrafluoroborate with other counterions such as a fluorine anion [139],... 

Fluoroalkanes can be obtained by fluoride transfer from complex fluoride anions to carbocat-ions in the nitrosative decomposition of certain aliphatic azides. Several complex nitrosonium salts, such as NO " BF4, NO PF(, , and NO ShF ". " have been used for this purpose. This reaction is similar to the decomposition of arenediazonium tetrafluoroborate salts to form aryl fluorides (the Balz-Schiemann reaction, discussed in Sections 1.1.8.5. and Vol. F 10a, p686ff). in which fluoride is transferred from a very weak nucleophile, such as the complex tetrafluoroborate anion, to an electron-deficient center. 

Since dialkyltriazenes were first used in aromatic fluorination by Wallach, ° many fluoroaro-matic compounds have been obtained in high yield by the decomposition of 3,3-dialkyl-l-aryl-triazenes with various fluorides in acidic media (see Vol. ElOa, p 725fT). Aryltriazenes are a potential source of aryldiazonium salts under controlled, mild, acid conditions. Therefore, this replacement (Route A) can be considered as a type of Balz-Schiemann reaction (see Section... 

On the other hand, 3,3-dialkyl-l-aryltriazenes can be easily obtained from the corresponding aromatic amines (by quenching the diazotized arylamine with a secondary amine, such as piperidine). Therefore, this reaction constitutes a mild alternative to the classic Balz-Schiemann thermal decomposition of aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborate salts, a method which in many cases is too drastic and tedious (see Section 1.1.8.5.). 

Since volatile, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is extremely corrosive and toxic, the fluorodediazo-niatron of aromatic amines with this agent require.s special apparatus and. safety conditions, which are not available in most laboratories. Thus, the decomposition of diazonium tclra-fliioro bo rates, which can be readily prepared from aromatic amines and casier-to-handle tetra-fluoroboric acid, is the commonest fluorodediazoniation process, usually referred to as the Balz-Schiemann reaction (see Vol. E 10a, p 705IT). 

Thermally Induced Decomposition of Arenediazonium Tetrafluoroborates (Thermal Balz-Schiemann Reaction)... 

Besides thermal decomposition of diazxvnium tetrafluoroborate salts (fluorodediazoniation), the Balz-Schiemann reaction can be carried out under either photochemical or ultrasonic irradiation. 

The most widely used method for the substitution of nitrogen-containing functional groups by fluorine is the thermal or photochemical decomposition of diazonium salts, the Baltz-Schiemann reaction (see Section 1.1.8 ). 

Boron trifluoride forms addition compounds that incorporate an sp hybridized boron into a tetravalent structure. Salts of BF4 are readily formed with BF3 and a suitable fluoride donor. Halogen fluorides such as chlorine trifluoride react with BF3 to generate interhalogen cations such as [C1F2]+[BF4]. Some further examples are shown in equations (43) and (44). In an organic application, the Schiemann reaction provides an entry into fluorinated aromatics by thermal decomposition of a diazonimn tetrafluoroborate (equation 45). 

Another alternative to the Balz-Schiemann reaction is now available through the thermal decomposition of aryl fluoroformates or aryl thiofluoroformates [36-38], as indicated in Figure 9.13. Fluoroformates are obtained in high yields but the pyrolysis step is quite variable. 

Introduction of a fluorine atom is achieved using the Schiemann reaction. Originally, the reaction involved gently heating the solid diazonium fluoroborate (Scheme 8.18), but improved yields result from the thermal decomposition the hexafluorophosphate, ArN2 PF, or hexa-fluoroantimonate, ArN2 SbFg, salts. 

Selective introduction of fluorine into an aromatic ring is often achieved by thermal decomposition of diazonium fluoroborates, which is called the Balz-Schiemann reaction (Scheme The scope of... 

---