Electrochemical azolation of 1,2 and 1,3 dimethoxybenzenes with tetrazole, pyrazole and triazole derivatives in MeCN in an undivided cell with Pt electrodes proceeds through the formation of intermediate arenonium cations of the ipso structure. Nature of the starting arenes and the corresponding intermediate arenonium cations determine composition and yields of the target products.In the preceding publications, 1-3 we have revealed the regularities of electrosynthesis of N arylazoles using gal vanostatic electrolysis of an azole (AzH) (pyrazole, tri azole, their substituted derivatives, tetrazole) and 1,4 di methoxybenzene (1,4 DMB) in an undivided cell.According to the concept proposed (Scheme 1), radi cal cation 2 emerged in the first step undergoes the ipso attack by the azole nucleophile to form radical 3, oxid izing further to arenonium cation 4. The ipso reaction of cation 4 with a nucleophile leads to hydrolytically labile product of the ipso bisaddition 7, whereas the rearrange ment of this cation to cation 5 with subsequent deproto nation, to the product of ortho substitution 6.Based on the pK a II values (see Ref. 4), the azoles studied were conventionally divided 1,3 to the highly basic (3,5 di methylpyrazole (DMP), 1,2,4 triazole (TA)) and poorly basic (4 nitropyrazole (NP), 3 nitro 1,2,4 triazole (NTA), tetrazole (T)). This allowed us to relate the yields and ratios of products 6 and 7 with acidity and basicity of azoles and medium, as well as with effects of different additives (for example, collidine (CL)).As it has been found earlier, 1,2 the key steps in the electrochemical N dimethoxyphenylation of azoles are the competing irreversible ortho interaction of arenonium cat ion 4 with the azole and reversible ipso interaction of the same species (see Scheme 1).
Scheme 1AH = AzH, AzH 2 + , AcOH; B = AzH, collidine (CL)