Phenoxenium ions identical intermediates in the acid-catalyzed solvolysis of n-tosyl-O-Arylhydroxylamines and in the thermolysis of N-Aryloxypyridinium salts
The acid-catalyzed solvolysis of N-tosyl-O-arylhydroxylamines in aromatic solvents and the thermolysis of N-arylqxypyridinium salts involve common intermediates, phenoxenium ions, for the formation of hydroxybiphenyl derivatives. Diphenylethers are formed when the hydrolysis of the N—O bonds is slow and the aromatic solvent has high nucleophilicity.