REACTIVE INTERMEDIATE IN THE DECOMPOSITION REACTION OF BIS DIAZO-COMPOUNDS

Photochemical extrusion reactions of dinitrogen from bis diazo compoun ds have been carried out by means of laser flash photolysis in argon m atrix at low temperature. Photolytic reactions of bis diazo compounds in methanol have been also conducted by using a high-pressure mercury lamp at room temperature. Monocarbenes isolated in the matrix were ide ntified by spectroscopic technique. The spectroscopic result for bis d iazo cyclohexanone showed a triplet ketocarbene intermediate at the fi rst step of the loss of nitrogen molecule from the substrate. The cont inuous decomposition reaction for bis diazo cyclohexanone in methanol at room temperature gave the Wolff rearrangement product.