Photochemical reactions of azo compounds. XII. Dark reaction of cis-azobenzene with acetyl chloride

Abstract

cis-Azobenzene has been shown to react with acetyl chloride in the absence of light to form N,N?-diacetyl-4-chlorohydrazobenzene and N?- acetyl-4-chloro-hydrazobenzene as the principal products; 4- phenylaminoazobenzene and acetanilide are also formed in small amounts. In the course of the reaction a metastable dark blue product arises, and, although this could not be satisfactorily characterized, it was found to yield 4-phenylaminoazobenzene on decomposition in methanolic potassium hydroxide or in acetyl chloride. The intense blue-purple coloration, which occurs as soon as the reactants are mixed, enables cis-azobenzene to be readily distinguished from its trans isomer. The nature of the currently reported reaction is discussed in relation to the previously reported photo-induced reaction of trans- azobenzene with acetyl chloride, which yields N,N?-diacetyl-4- chlorohydrazobenzene practically exclusively.