Decomposition of 2-dialkylaminobenzoyl azides to yield isocyanates and 1,1-dialkylindazol-1-ium-3-olates

Abstract

Substituted benzoyl azides normally yield the correspondingly substituted isocyanates but when a dialkylated amino group is in the 2-position, in addition to the isocyanate, the 1,1-dialkylated indazol-1-ium-3-olate is produced. The ratio of the two products is very variable depending upon the substitution in the benzene ring. Largest yields of the zwitterionic products were found when there was a substituent in the 3-position regardless of whether the substituent was electron-donating or -withdrawing.