The reactions of azoalkanes with triarylaminium radical cation salts

Abstract

Azoalkanes usually decompose to yield nitrogen and neutral radicals. However, in recent years their oxidative decomposition by stable cation radical salts has been studied. In this instance, cation derived products are typically observed. This work concentrated on the reactivity of an unsymmetrical azoalkane with cation radical salts. The azoalkane studied was a hybrid of an azoalkane that decomposed completely in the presence of cation radical salts and one that did not decompose at all. The reactivity of the hybrid was found to lie between the two aforementioned azoalkanes. In addition, radical derived products were observed, one of which apparently arose by coupling with the cation radical. Coupling of neutral radicals and cation radicals is a rare occurrence as both species are typically transient