SummaryThe products of decomposition of solutions of p-chlorpbenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate in aqueous buffer solutions (pH 9.0-10.3; ionic strength 0.1-0.5) at 20.0" have been analyzed quantitatively. Up to eleven low molecular weight compounds could be identified besides the major product, the complex polymeric diazo tar. The distribution of products is influenced by trace amounts of oxygen as well as by p-chlorophenol and the radical trapping reagent iodoacetic acid. Mechanisms of formation of the products are discussed.1. Introduction. -The reaction products of arenediazonium ions in aqueous solutions depend on acidity, and three main areas of interest with respect to pH can be defined. In the case of the unsubstituted benzenediazonium ion heterolytic hydroxydediazoniation is dominant below about pH 4, and phenol is formed. At pH-values higher than 12, cis-benzenediazotate (originally called syn-diazotate) is formed; it is rearranged slowly into the trans-diazotate (anti-diazotate). In the intermediate pH-range a number of products can be detected, in particular the so-called diazo tars, i.e. macromolecular compounds of a complex structure which has not yet been investigated in detail2). For substituted benzenediazonium ions the above pH ranges are shifted to higher and lower values, depending on the basifying and acidifying character, respectively, of the substituents.The mechanisms of heterolytic hydroxydediazoniation and hydroxyaddition have been investigated in detail. In contrast, only a few mechanistic studies have been made of reactions of diazonium ions in the medium range of pH values (pH 6-11) in spite of the fact that solutions of diazonium salts are often used for the synthesis of azo dyes in precisely this pH range. The lack of data.on the fate of diazonium salts in slightly alkaline solutions is due to the complex mixture of products and to the difficulty in reproducing the kinetic data.