Azide-to-diazo conversion offers safer route to versatile diazo compounds
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 1-May-2026 14:17 ET (1-May-2026 18:17 GMT/UTC)
Diazoacetic acid esters are important intermediates in drug and agrochemical synthesis, but their preparation typically requires hazardous diazomethane. Researchers from the Tokyo University of Science developed a safer method using a Michael addition-mediated azide-to-diazo conversion. By pretreating 2-azidoacrylic acid esters with a bulky phosphine followed by nucleophile addition, they produced β-heteroatom-substituted diazo esters without toxic precursors. This simpler approach offers a practical and flexible route to access diverse organonitrogen compounds.
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