Halo- and azidodediazoniation of arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates with trimethylsilyl halides and trimethylsilyl azide and sandmeyer-type bromodediazoniation with Cu(I)Br in [BMIM][PF6] ionic liquid.

Reaction of [ArN(2)][BF(4)] salts immobilized in [BMIM][PF(6)] ionic liquid (IL) with TMSX (X = I, Br) and TMSN(3) represents an efficient method for the preparation of iodo-, bromo-, and azido-derivatives via dediazoniation. The reactions can also be effected starting with ArNH(2) by in situ diazotization with [NO][BF(4)] followed by reaction with TMSX or TMSN(3). Depending on the substituents on the benzenediazonium cation, competing fluorodediazoniation (ArF formation) and hydrodediazoniation (ArH formation) were observed. Dediazoniation with TMSN(3) and with TMSI generally gave the highest chemoselectivity toward ArN(3) and ArI formation. The IL was recycled and reused up to 5 times with no appreciable decrease in the conversions. Multinuclear NMR monitoring of the interaction of [ArN(2)][BF(4)]/TMSX, [BMIM][PF6]/TMSX, and [BMIM][PF(6)]/TMSX/[ArN(2)][BF(4)] indicated that TMSF is formed primarily via [ArN(2)][BF(4)]/TMSX, generating [ArN(2)][X] in situ, which gives ArX on dediazoniation. Competing formation of ArF in Sandmeyer-type bromodediazoniation of [ArN(2)][BF(4)] with Cu(I)Br immobilized in the IL points to significant involvement of heterolytic dediazoniation.