Diphenylamines and quinone di-imines from base-catalysed reactions of 2-(alkoxyamino)diaryl sulphones: evidence against a nitrene mechanism
Abstract
Reaction of 2-(alkoxyamino)diaryl sulphones with sodium alkoxides at 20° results in loss of alkoxy-groups and furnishes diphenylamine derivatives and quinone di-imines; trapping experiments and comparison with reactions designed to generate o-(phenylsulphonyl)-aryl nitrenes indicate that a nitrene mechanism is unlikely.