2-Diazofluorene → Anthraquinone

Participants

Reaction Steps

To probe the scope of the reaction even further, we investigated the synthesis of semi-stabilized diazo-compounds. Treatment of 9-azido-fluorene 2j with phosphine 1e under anhydrous conditions at low temperature (toluene, 0° C.), followed by loading the red solution directly on basic alumina (Grade 5) and eluting with 10% CH2Cl2/hexanes, 9-diazo-fluorene 5j was isolated in 85% yield and excellent purity (96%). Apparently, thermal fragmentation of the putative triazenophosphonium salt, which more than likely exists in its neutral λ5-phosphorane form[16] is suppressed sufficiently for this substrate under the reaction conditions. The low temperature and low polarity of the solvent probably contribute to that greater stability. Under the standard conditions (THF/H2O), incomplete conversion of the azide 2j and contamination of the diazo-compound 5j with substantial amounts of other products, probably arising from alternative triazene decomposition and dimerization of the diazo-compound, were apparent. Finally, a vinylogous diazo-carbonyl compound 5k (96% purity) was prepared in good yield from anthraquinone-based azide 2k using the standard conditions.

Provenance & Evidence