SELECTIVE REACTIONS (HYDROLYSIS OR DEBENZOTRIAZOLATION) OF BIS(BENZOTRIAZOL-1-YL)METHYLIMINE BY METAL(II) SALTS

The reactions of bis(benzotriazol-1-yl)methylimine (BBTMI) with acetat es and chlorides of Cu-II, Ni-II, Co-II, Zn-II, Cd-II and Mn-II were s tudied in ethanol. While the metal acetates induced debenzotriazolatio n to form 1-cyanobenzotriazole and benzotriazole, the chlorides induce d hydrolysis of BBTMI to form 1,1'bis(benzotriazol-1-yl)carbonyl. Thes e intermediates subsequently formed the mixed ligand complexes [1-cyan obenzotriazolediacetato M(II)] and [benzotriazolatochloro M(II)] respe ctively. The chemo-selectivity of the reactions could be attributed to a facile cleavage of one of the M-O bonds of the bidentately bound ac etates and to the acidic nature in the case of the chloride solution. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd