Copper-catalyzed direct carbodiazenylation of cycloalkanes with aryldiazonium salts under redox neutral conditions

Abstract

Diazenes are of particular importance in organic synthesis and routinely utilized as dyes, photoswitches, indicators, radical reaction initiators, food additives, and pharmaceuticals. In this work, a novel copper-catalyzed direct carbodiazenylation of cycloalkanes with aryldiazonium salts toward the synthesize of alkylarylazo compounds has been developed. The reaction can be carried out under redox neutral conditions which allow the use of highly functionalized substrates and a wide range of diazenes were produced in moderate to good yields. Notably, this process operates under mild conditions and then enables the preparation of indoles straightforwardly.