Abstract
The thermal decomposition of 1, 4-dimethyl-1, 4-diphenyl-2-tetrazene [1] in toluene at 110 °C leads to production of two N-methylanilino radicals with a loss of nitrogen. A part of the nitorogen radicals abstract hydrogen atom from toluene to give benzyl radicals. As a result, N-methylaniline, N, N'-dimethylhydrazobenzene [2], N-methyl-N-phenylbenzylamine [3], aniline, and biphenyl are obtained. The thermal decomposition of [1] was also carried out in the presence of 1-butanethiol as a radical trapping agent in toluene. The yield of [2]decreases with the increasing amount of the scavenger. This means that the decomposition of [1] dods not proceed via a concerted mechanism but by a stepwise one.
