Intermediates in photolyses of 2,2′-diazidoazobenzene and 2-azidoazobenzene in low-temperature matrices

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S1386-1425(97)00231-X

The photolyses of 2,2′-diazidoazobenzene (1) and 2-azidoazobenzene (4) were investigated in argon and 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran (MTHF) matrices at cryogenic temperature. Nitrene and dinitrene were observed in the photolysis of 1 in an MTHF matrix by electron spin resonance (ESR). The dinitrene in an argon matrix was also observed by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies. UV absorption bands at 430 and 460 nm and IR peak at 1263 cm^-1 were assigned to the dinitrene. Furthermore, mononitrene as an intermediate of the photolysis of 4 was confirmed by UV-vis and FT-IR spectroscopies in an argon matrix. An IR band at 1225 cm^-1 of mononitrene was observed.