Reactions of dipotassium diazomethanedisulphonate in aqueous solution

Abstract

Decomposition of dipotassium diazomethanedisulphonate (2) in aqueous solution leads to the appropriate potassium salt of either hydrazonomethanedisulphonic acid (5), methanetrisulphonic acid (4), methanedisulphonic acid (3), or sulphohydrazonomethanedisulphonic acid (1), depending on the conditions employed. The relative stability of the diazo-compound at neutral pH together with its function as an alkylating agent, evidenced by the formation of dipotassium methoxymethanedisulphonate in aqueous methanol, suggests that it may have some potential as an irreversible inhibitor in biological systems.