Bamford-Stevens reaction is shown to be a unimolecular elimination from the anion of the sulphonylhydrazone. This gives, apparently in all cases, a secondary aliphatic diazo-compound, which then undergoes thermal decomposition. Such diazo-compounds may decompose in solvents rich in available protons, such as were originally used by Bamford and Stevens, mainly via the diazonium cation, and the reaction
Bamford-Stevens反应中的决定速率的阶段显示为磺酰a阴离子的单分子消除。显然,在所有情况下,这都会产生仲脂族重氮化合物,然后将其进行热分解。这样的重氮化合物可以在富含可用质子的溶剂中分解,例如Bamford和Stevens最初使用的溶剂,主要通过重氮阳离子分解,然后该反应退化为正常脱
氨反应的一种形式。乙酰胺是一种方便的溶剂,可最大程度地减少这种影响,并提供更高产率的烃类产品。