The radical coupling mechanism in the diazo coupling reaction. Migration vs. decomposition of phenylazo radical generated from phenylazo 1-naphthyl ether in the solvent cage
The thermal reaction of phenylazo 1-naphthyl ether generates a pair of phenylazo and naphthoxy radicals in the solvent cage, in which these radicals couple together at the aromatic carbon to give 4-phenylazo-1-naphthol and 2-phenylazo-1-naphthol.