Optical spectroscopy of the aryl cation, the intermediate in the decomposition of arenediazonium salts

Abstract

The UV—visible spectrum of the aryl cation is presented for the first time. The species originates from the decomposition of trisubstituted arenediazonium salts in an LiCl glass matrix at 77 K. The generation of the aryl cation in its triplet ground state (π) 5(sp 2) 1 and the absence of the aryl radical in the system have been proved by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy.