Preparation of Some 2-(Methoxyphenyl)-2H-benzotriazoles and the Corresponding Hydroxyphenyl Compounds

Abstract

The reaction of several substituted o- nitronitrosobenzenes with O- and p- anisidine , and 2,4- dimethoxyaniline in acetic acid gives in good yield the corresponding enitroazobenzenes which are readily reduced with thiourea dioxide ( formamidinesulfinic acid) to the corresponding 2-(methoxypheny1)-2H-benzotriazoles, demethylation of which furnished the corresponding 2- (hydroxypheny1)-2H-benzotriazoles. Demethylation of the dimethoxy derivatives was best accomplished with boron tribromide in methylene chloride, the methoxy group located ortho to the benzotriazole ring being demethylated more readily than is the para-methoxy group. The reaction of enitroazobenzenes containing a methoxy group with hydrobromic acid in acetic acid results in cleavage of the azo bond and also partial bromination to give o- nitroaniline and some of its brominated derivatives.