Aryl radicals from hexazadienes and tetrazenes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1139/v82-148

Aryl radicals are produced from both ends of the hexazadienes 1 and 2 and from the tetrazene 3, either thermally or photolytically.They attack aromatic compounds in the nucleus, the yield of biaryl being in the range 40-70percent, though it can be made nearly quantitative by using m-dinitrobenzene as additive.The aryl radicals also oxidize 2-propanol to acetone, the reaction products being the halogenobenzene and 1,2-diacetylhydrazine.Photolysis of 1 goes mainly by way of the tetrazene 3, and this may also be a significant pathway in the thermal reaction.Azodiacetylis an intermediate in the thermal reaction of 1 with 2-propanol and may be generally so in all its reactions.Radical induced decomposition is believed to be important in the reactions of 1, 2, and 3, and it is probably responsible for the formation of 1-acetyl-1-arylhydrazines, routinely produced in yields up to 25percent.