INTERMEDIATES IN PHOTOLYSES OF 2,2'-DIAZIDOAZOBENZENE AND 2-AZIDOAZOBENZENE IN LOW-TEMPERATURE MATRICES

The photolyses of 2,2'-diazidoazobenzene (1) and 2-azidoazobenzene (4) were investigated in argon and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) matrice s at cryogenic temperature. Nitrene and dinitrene were observed in the photolysis of 1 in an MTHF matrix by electron spin resonance (ESR). T he dinitrene in an argon matrix was also observed by ultraviolet-visib le (UV-vis) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies. UV absorption bands at 430 and 460 nm and IR peak at 1263 cm(-1) were ass igned to the dinitrene. Furthermore, mononitrene as an intermediate of the photolysis of 4 was confirmed by UV-vis and FT-IR spectroscopies in an argon matrix. An IR band at 1225 cm(-1) of mononitrene was obser ved. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.