Inter- and intra-molecular aromatic N-substitution by arylnitrenium–aluminium chloride complexes generated from aryl azides in the presence of aluminium chloride
benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, cumene, anisole, and bromobenzene) in the presence of AlCl3 gave diarylamines, whereas those of phenyl azides with an electron-donating group such as Me and OMe yield little of the corresponding diarylamines (tar formation takes place). The reaction of 4-nitrophenyl azide with benzene in the presence of AlCl3 gave 4-nitrophenyl(phenyl)amine and a C-substitution product,
Decomposition of 2-azidodiphenylmethane and 2-azidobiphenyls in CH2Cl2 in the presence of AlCl3 gave 9,10-dihydroacridine and carbazoles, respectively, in reasonable yields by regiospecificN-attack of an arylnitrenium–AlCl3 complex.