Competitive homolytic and heterolytic dediazoniation mechanisms: Rate constants and product distribution of methoxy‐, hydroxy‐, and hydro‐dediazoniation of 3‐ and 4‐methylbenzenediazonium salts in acidic MeOH/H2O mixtures

The rates and product distribution for methoxy‐, hydroxy‐ and hydro‐dediazoniation and the rate constants for disappearance of 3‐ and 4‐methylbenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate in acidic MeOH/H₂O mixtures, in the presence and absence of electrolytes like HCl, NaCl, and CuCl₂, are reported. Data were obtained by using a combination of VIS‐UV and HPLC techniques. The kinetics and product distributions are completely consistent with competitive homolytic and heterolytic mechanisms, the heterolytic one being predominant at any solvent composition. Heterolytic data are in agreement with the predictions of a D_N + A_N mechanism; that is, rate determining formation of an aryl cation that reacts immediately with available nucleophiles. Selectivity values, determined from product yields, are low and independent of solvent composition. Product formation is discussed in terms of a preassociation step between aryl cations and the nucleophile, which does not account for much of the trapping, and a nucleophilic attack on a “free” arenediazonium cation. Activation parameters were also determined at 99.5% MeOH: enthalpies of activation are high and entropies of activation are positive, and they are similar to those reported for pure water. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 210–220, 2000