ortho-Functionalization of azobenzenes via hypervalent iodine reagents
Ester Maria Di Tommaso1, Melanie Walther2,3, Anne Staubitz2,3
1Department of Organic Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. berit.olofsson@su.se.
Abstract:
ortho-Functionalized azobenzenes are much sought after molecular switches, as they may be tuned to absorb in the visible range of light and the (Z)-isomers can have high thermal half-lives. To enable straightforward access to these targets, we have developed a synthetic route via novel ortho-substituted azobenzene-functionalized diaryliodonium salts. Selective transfer of the azobenzene moiety to O-, N-, C- and S-nucleophiles under mild, transition metal-free conditions gives access to an unprecedented range of ortho-substituted azobenzenes. The photoswitching properties of the reagents were investigated and the structure was determined by X-ray crystallography.
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